How about Colorful Chalkboard Paint?

Chalkboard paint has been really becoming popular lately.
Although the above is one of my favorite images that illustrate
the use of chalkboard paint, one does not have to go all out
and paint an entire room in chalkboard paint - although this
shows how it really can work. Did you notice that even the
ceiling is painted in chalkboard paint? I thought that was
pretty unique.

Hallways and doors are excellent for painting with
chalkboard paint as well.

How about the front door?

This entry hall is very cleverly done with just the top
of of the room and the ceiling painted with chalkboard
paint. I love the pink/peach juxtaposed against the
dark paint. The beautiful chalk swirls and cursive letters
really do make a big statement.

Painting a teenager’s room in chalkboard can
be fun.

And of course, it’s absolutely perfect for kid’s
or children’s rooms.

This is an interesting wall that separates
the kid’s beds from the main living space.
By painting the dividing wall with chalkboard
paint, it effectively creates a great play space.

I really thought this was very clever. Ever get
tired of craning your neck at the cookbook while
trying a recipe? Well now you can literally write
the recipe on your kitchen wall. Painting the kitchen
backsplash with chalkboard paint can come out with
unexpected benefits.

Here’s a more traditional and rustic kitchen
paired with green chalkboard walls. I adore
the old door used for the pantry.

Isn’t this a hoot? Bathroom graffiti is the
way to go.

This post was actually inspired by Hudson Paint. What’s
unique about their chalkboard paint is the many bright
colors it comes in (as you can see from the color palette
above.) They give some great tidbits about using chalk-
board paint here.

I think a great point to remember that outside of painting
on a smooth surface, remember that not all chalk is made
equal. Here’s a piece of advice from Hudson Paint about
using chalk.

Chalk sticks are not all equal, some are very hard, some
even contain wax or oils which make them difficult to
erase, try different brand for best results.

Some examples and ways to use Hudson paint
from their site. I love how they mixed colors
to make a grid for this mudroom.

A child’s room or play room is fantastic for colorful
chalkboard paint. How often have you seen an orange
chalkboard? Pretty fun and cool.

An office is a great place to use chalkboard paint as well.
Here we have an entire wall with a red chalkboard.

This photos is just for fun where a school painted one
of their halls entirely in green chalkboard paint.

Remember the chalkboard paint isn’t just for walls, you
can use it on all sorts of mediums such as furniture or even
appliances. I’ll have follow posts on this in the future. So
how about it, would you consider using chalkboard paint in
your home?

Photos from Hudson Paint, Apartment Therapy,
Style-Files, BHG.com, Lowes and JeanierHoades.com

Subscribe to this Feed

Visit the original post at: Alkemie

Black Walls…Black Rooms…Punk, Goth or Glam with an Edge?

A couple years ago, I started getting into black walls and

black rooms…I even painted my guest bathroom black.
This was after I lost the battle at home to paint the guest
bedroom black. Granted, it’s not the usual color to paint
a bedroom or any room for that matter - but black as a
room color can definitely work. Take the above room for
instance, who would ever think of pairing this ornate bed
with black lacquered walls? But it works and to me it’s
glam and chic with an edge.

Here’s a room where the black bed frame blends into the
black walls and ceiling. It’s actually pretty neat. Even the
bench, rug and door frame is painted black. The gray flooring
and white bedding give some contrast to an otherwise very
black room.

This room is painted all black except for the window frames.
The white desk and white bed linens help temper this space.

Black textured wallpaper on one wall can make quite a
statement without painting the entire room black.

Black and bright yellow. You can also pair black with
other bright colors where it can really make a color pop.

Metallics will always look good against black.

This is Jennifer’s bedroom (Made by Girl). She makes
fantastic stationary and we share a common penchant
for the union jack. Isn’t her bedroom cool?

This kitchen is from Domino magazine. I don’t know
about you but I don’t see many kitchen walls and ceilings
painted black - but this really seems to work. Painting
kitchen walls and cabinets with chalkboard paint has also
been popular lately. You can achieve a similar affect with it
and have the benefit of being able to use the wall as a
chalkboard - pretty nifty if you ask me.

Black can make instantly create the “cool” factor
in any room. It can also make a room feel cozy
like this great lounging space where the wall
disappears into the ceiling.

Sky blue with black and white - black
and be a great neutral color.

This photo by Ted Yearwood showcases
an all black bathroom - even the door
is black.

The black marble and crystal scones in this
bathroom really make for a swanky and high
end bathroom. Can’t forget the lacquered walls
for some shine and glam.

I just love how smooth and shiny the black
walls are in this bathroom. The single yellow
chair in this room really creates visual interest.

My Favorite and My Best has a great post on the

black rooms and walls in her home. Definitely

check it out.

What do you think of painting a room black?
Would you dare?

Subscribe to this Feed

Visit the original post at: Alkemie

Time for a Breather

Visit the original post at: katiedid

Napa: Shopping at Erin Martin’s Showroom

After seeing Erin Martin’s designs for the Showhouse in San Francisco, I thought it would be fun to stop into her Showroom while we were in Napa. Well worth the visit! It is located on the main Street in St. Helena and is full of Erin’s creativity. Many of the items, like the rope chandelier are Erin’s own designs. I hope you enjoy this little peek as much as I enjoyed the shop!

A bit of a short post, but we are headed out the door for SoCal!

I will miss you while we are gone!

Visit the original post at: katiedid

Asian Inspired Home Decorating

There are very few themes for decorating a home that capture the imagination quite like an Asian inspired theme. There are many reasons for this one of which is the rich colors, fabrics, and textures that are the hallmark of these themes. There is a simplistic elegance about Asian d?cor that is almost impossible to imitate in other methods. It is simply put, stunning to walk into a room or a home that has been decorated in an Asian inspired motif.

This is not one of the lesser styles of d?cor when it comes to price. This elegance comes at a rather high price for the average consumer. However, the sparseness of this home decorating style make it possible when other styles with this sort of price tag would not be possible. One of the most important things to remember when attempting to bring an Asian style of d?cor into your home is the heavy reliance upon color and texture.

Dining rooms are particularly stunning when decorated in an Asian style. In this situation not only can the implements added to the room serve to improve and enhance the d?cor but also the placemats on the table can serve as an important tool in establishing the theme of this supremely elegant room. Chopsticks and dishes, particularly tea servings are other great enhancements to an Asian dining room. This is a room that many families will enjoy dining in.

It is recommended that because of the expense involved in many Asian themed home decorating styles that only one or two rooms in the home should be created based upon an Asian theme. This will keep the costs down as well as making those rooms focal points within the home rather than having the splendor lost among the excess.

If you are having a rough time narrowing down the two rooms, the bathroom also makes an excellent room in which to incorporate an Asian inspired theme. This is a room in which people go to relax and wash away the worries and stress of their days. For this reason, it makes perfect sense that some of the more tranquil and relaxing design accents of an Asian d?cor would be appropriate. Candles, figurines, calligraphy (waterproof of course), and Asian artwork make excellent touches for a bathroom, as do the more tranquil colors of some Asian inspired rooms. Fountains can be added to the room for an added taste of relaxation. Be sure that there is plenty of storage space as clean lines and an uncluttered surface are also important for the overall peaceful affect you should be hoping to achieve.

If either the dining room or bath or unappealing to your home decorating desires for an Asian theme you may want to take the theme into your bedroom. There are very few more romantic themes to incorporate into a bedroom than an Asian theme. You can use fabrics to create a very romantic atmosphere, rice paper window coverings to protect those inside from prying eyes, and candles throughout the room to finish off the creation. Furnishings in this room should be sparse and uncluttered. And Asian screens can be used in order to ’section off’ the room or hide the piles of laundry or cluttered areas that you wish not to be detract from the overall romance of the room. Fans make a lovely decoration for the walls in a bedroom as does Oriental art or framed calligraphy in the words of love. Use wall sconces and indirect lighting rather than harsh, glaring overhead lights.

An Asian theme can be one of the most beautiful in the realm of home decorating if you are truly willing to invest the time and money it takes to do this theme properly. It can also be one of the most gaudy if you choose cheap and tacky decorations rather than quality accessories. If you choose to incorporate this theme into your home I hope you will keep that in mind while you are shopping.

Tags :

Visit the original post at: Home & Gardening

A Gorgeous Loft &Trine Thorsen Photograpy

This gorgeous loft was photographed by Scandinavian
photographer Trine Thorsen. The loft is spacious and
entirely gorgeous with bright light and purple/plum
accents.

I’ve Totally fallen for the gorgeous dark
wood floors. How cool is that? The cement
gives the loft a more industrial feel and I
like how open and bright it is.

A gorgeous platform tatami bed (tatami are
tightly woven matts that the Japanese use
for flooring and for their beds. I just love the
rich, deep magenta color on the wallpaper.

Great shot of the bed using the mirror.

Here’s another bedroom in the loft. As you
can see, this area uses a lighter flooring that
has a hint of grey in it.

I love mercury glass and those are a pair
of gorgeous mercury glass candle sticks.

My favorite part of this area is the very
natural and organic looking table. It’s
got a rustic style to it and just gorgeous.

Danish Modern

If any of you fancy the Scandinavian sense
of design, you may be interested in some
of these books. Danish modern design blends
incredibly well with contemporary, modern and
organic designs.

Living With Light:
Decorating the Scandinavian Way

Lots of light, bright and white is another
way the Scandinavians design.

Scandinavian Modern

Subscribe to this Feed

Visit the original post at: Alkemie

The Psychology Behind Gardening

I don’t know what it is about a garden that has always drawn humans to them. But they’ve always been very popular, and an integral part of peoples’ lifestyles. Most religions feature gardens as the settings for some of the biggest events According to Christianity, humanity was started in a garden and the son of God was resurrected in a garden. The Buddhist build gardens to allow nature to permeate their surroundings. Almost every major palace and government building has a garden. But what’s so great about them? They’re just a bunch of plants, after all.

Of course, the reasoning is fairly obvious behind why people grow food in gardens. It’s to eat! If you live off the fat of the land and actually survive on stuff from your garden, it’s easy to understand the reasoning. But I’m thinking about those people who plant flower gardens just for the sake of looking nice. There’s no immediate benefit that I can see; you just have a bunch of flowers in your yard! However, after thinking extensively about the motivation behind planting decorative gardens, I’ve conceived several possible theories.

I think one of the reasons people love gardens so much is that while we have a natural desire to progress and industrialize, deep within all of us is a primal love for nature. While this desire might not be as strong as the desire for modernism, it is still strong enough to compel us to create gardens, small outlets of nature, in the midst of all our hustle and bustle. Since being in nature is like regressing to an earlier stage of humanity, we too can regress to a time of comfort and utter happiness. This is why gardens are so relaxing and calming to be in. This is why gardens are a good place to meditate and do tai chi exercises. A garden is a way to quickly escape from the busy world.

I’ve thought at times that perhaps we as humans feel a sort of guilt driving us to restore nature and care for it. This guilt could stem from the knowledge that we, not personally but as a race, have destroyed so much of nature to get where we are today. It’s the least we can do to build a small garden in remembrance of all the trees we kill every day. It’s my theory that this is the underlying reason for most people to take up gardening as a hobby.

Gardening is definitely a healthy habit though, don’t get me wrong. Any hobby that provides physical exercise, helps the environment, and improves your diet can’t be a negative thing. So no matter what the underlying
psychological cause for gardening is, I think that everyone should continue to do so. In the USA especially, which is dealing with obesity and pollution as its two major problems, I think gardening can only serve
to improve the state of the world.

Of course I’m no psychologist; I’m just a curious gardener. I often stay up for hours wondering what makes me garden. What is it that makes me go outside for a few hours every day with my gardening tools, and facilitate
the small-time growth of plants that would grow naturally on their own? I may never know, but in this case ignorance truly is bliss.

Visit the original post at: Home & Gardening

Napa: Dessert!!

Click here for more info on the cookbook!

Visit the original post at: katiedid

Napa: Where to Eat

I guess a better question would be, where NOT to eat! There are so many 5 star restaurants in the Napa Valley, you might never find a bad one. On our day in Napa, we had a hard time deciding where to go. We decided that Bistro Jeanty would be perfect: casual, but brilliant, authentically prepared country French food.

Opened in 1998 by chef Philippe Jeanty, Bistro Jeanty has been receiving accolades ever since. Philippe Jeanty came to the U.S. from Epernay, France in 1977 and hasn’t looked back. And lucky for us! He arrived here to open the Chandon Restaurant with a team of French chefs. But after many years of perfecting his skills in classic French Haute Cuisine, he decided to open Bistro Jeanty to quench his thirst for the simpler country version of French food.

The restaurant has received a Michelin star each of the last three years, as well as other numerous awards. Yet you would never feel out of place in this charming, so-not-stuffy bistro.

OK, before we go any further, click here to listen to some music to put you in the mood. Then come right on back!

Here is what we had:

Mine was a mouth watering leek tart with a Porcini mushroom reduction. I also had the Hericots Verts Salad, perfectly seasoned with just a hint of crunchiness.

Visit the original post at: katiedid

A Week in Napa Valley Starts with Ma(i)sonry

Visit the original post at: katiedid