Sunrooms, equally lovely spaces part of the home

I love the jute rug and the greenery and the woodsy furnishings that smartly introduces outside into the sunroom.

We have a little sunroom attached to the back of our home. When we first bought our home about a year ago I had grand plans to transform the sunroom into a Moroccan style lounge, however, with all the other big fixes we were busy doing the sunroom was pushed to the back burner and so naturally, the sunroom is still in need of some serious attention. With so much time that has passed my original idea of the Moroccan lounge seems less appealing so now I'm on the hunt for a new idea, a new look. Here are a few lovely sunrooms that made an impression on me.

Love the amount of seating the huge wooden table, it all points to a large warm gathering. I also love the idea of curtains to have privacy when needed.

I love that this person went all out, no holding back, and went for very chic decor, an unlikely look for a sunroom.

I really love the fireplace added into the sunroom and the fact that this sunroom has a general feeling that it is part of the home, it can even pass as a living room.

I love that this sunroom albeit small has a very warm welcoming decor while keeping it simple.

My favorite sunroom out of the bunch. I love that it has an eating area as well as a sitting area, two things I definitely want in my sunroom.

I love the use of color in this sunroom. So often we see sunrooms with neutrals- which makes sense but why not branch out.

A sunroom turned studio, very downtown and hip to the vibe. Love the completely un-sunroom like sunroom.

Chalkboard Wall In The Home

A chalkboard wall is something I've always wanted in my home, a little piece of old school to make my home unique, fun and welcoming. There are plenty of great places to put a chalkboard wall, your kid's room of course is on top of the list, but for me the chalkboard wall took place in the kitchen. A bare awkward wall was painted over with a few coats of chalkboard paint (purchased at Home Depot) and in a few days I had a chalkboard wall to write my shopping list, reminders, planned menus, notes and such. I absolutely love it! And I'm sure my son, when he is old enough, will love it too.

Was it hard to paint the chalkboard wall? No, not really but it does take more than splashing it on the wall. Chalkboard paint is sold at Home Depot, I merely picked the chalkboard paint and brought it home. Here's a few helpful tips I've learned while painting the chalkboard wall...

1. If you want a smooth surface chalkboard wall you'll need to pick a wall with a smooth surface. Unsurprisingly the chalkboard paint will not smooth out any bumps for you. My kitchen wall has a slightly bumpy texture so naturally the final result came out well, a little bumpy. This can be seen more so when written on, it's not all too bad but still, if I was to do it over again I'd probably do it on a smooth wall.

2. When the directions say "sand the wall", SAND THE WALL! Especially if you have a glossy finished wall you are planning to paint over.

3. Don't be afraid to do more than two coats just remember to wait the specified amount of time to let it dry before painting your additional coats. I did three coats.

4. Purchase the appropriate roller! A roller specifically for a smooth finish is what you're going to need to get this done right. I bought a couple of rollers and used a new roller for each coat that I did, just in case. The chalkboard paint specified which roller I would need- this made it loads easier!

5. Don't freak out if you've found that your chalkboard paint has bled just a little bit past your taped off edges, you can always do a trim or a molding around the chalkboard which will probably only make it that much more beautiful.

6. Slowly and carefully remove your tape from the taped off edges. The chalkboard paint I used is latex so when it dried and hardened I was careful to remove the tape off the edges as I was afraid it would peel or lift the paint off the wall.

7. The type of chalkboard eraser you use is a factor. What? I know right! I thought all erasers were made equal, apparently not, just ask a fellow teacher. I'm not too sure if I got a good chalkboard eraser but it was reviewed pretty highly on amazon compared to all the others.

White Out

I try to steer clear of white even in my wardrobe but that isn't to say that the color itself isn't worthy of some notice. Check out these beautiful images of homes that consists of rooms that are whited out. The results are nothing less than ethereal.

Accentuating With Brass

I have a tendency, like most others to focus on color when it comes to decor, and why wouldn't I? Color is affordable, the change can be big or small and you have a large selection of color to choose from to achieve the style and mood you want.  But lets face it, as great as changing the color of your walls can be or adding a color to accent the room it just doesn't achieve the kind of greatness using brass to accentuate can do. It will burn a hole in your pocket for sure but if you've got the funds and the budget why not go with something more unique and a little more fab.

Here are a choice images from an article Dwell Magazine did on brass in one family's home. It is... nothing less than awesommmme.

Read the full article in Dwell:

Minimalist Brooklyn Apartment, Top Brass

Inspirational Blue Rooms

Love the extra large crushed velvet royal blue L sofa. 

Loving the mixture of blue-toned teals in one room. 

Love the fact that you can use powder blue in other rooms other than a nursery. 

Love the way blue can look bold, brave yet soothing in a small space 

Love how printed blue wallpaper that is a risk of looking too busy can actually look beautifully unique. 

 Love the way the use of blue in this image is inspiring.

Beautifully Eclectic Room

Eclectic fun living-room decor.

Absolutely beautiful.

The Fine Line When It Comes To Open Shelving

Open shelving is not only great if you are looking to add a bit charm into a space but is also convenient, no opening of cabinet doors or drawers is needed, simply reach over and grab. Of course this also means that everything on the shelves are exposed to all eyes. One may presume that keeping their open shelving will be quite simple because they are in fact a very tidy person- this is what I thought, but I quickly learned that there are a few things that can make open shelving belonging to the tidiest of people, cluttery and messy looking. And so, while I am a huge fan of open shelving and use it in my home almost wherever I can, the cluttery mess that can come with it is a very real issue, there is a fine line between neat & charming and just downright messy. Here are a few pointers on how to pull off and what to stay away from when considering open shelving for a space in your home.

Cozy Dining-Rooms

You may opt for a formal dining-room, but if you're anything like me you will probably feel most comfortable in a not-so-formal one. Formal dining-rooms are very beautiful but the pressure to sit-up straight as a stick, to not have a finger or elbow out of place and to eat with formal dining etiquette (this fork for this, that fork for that) can be a bit much for my digestion. My idea of a dinner party is, close friends, dim lights, a quiet chatter or even, dare I say, gossip. Reaching over the table for hot bread buns, a shared dish of butter... this is what I see for a dinner party in my home. And for a dinner party like this, or for any dinner like this for that matter, one will need a comfortable, cozy and friendly atmosphere.

A FEW ATTRIBUTES TO MAKING IT COZY

FIREPLACE... Add warmth, now that's cozy

Maybe it is because we envision winter time when we see a fireplace that make us feel so comforted; sitting around a fire during a storm reading a book with a cup of hot chocolate while we wear our most warm and comfortable.

DINING-ROOM FURNITURE... That isn't exactly dining-room material can be cozy

A large dresser drawer there and a table lamp here, all on a beautiful arabian rug can exude an atmosphere that makes diners feel that it is okay to 'let go'. "Forget formal dining etiquette" it might say.

THE LOVE SEAT... Cozy for two, cozy for all

Adding other non-traditional seating, such as a love seat is probably one of the most simplest ways to transform your dining area into a cozy one.

THE FRIENDLY CHALKBOARD... a casualness that comforts by saying "you'll be okay here"

Perhaps it is reminiscent of our childhood that makes chalkboards so friendly and warm, remember your 2nd grade classroom? The room with its colorful tightly knit carpet, games and toys off in one corner, colorful 2nd grades drawings all over the wall, and in the corner a little alcove where one had cubbies and hooks to put their belongings... and of course at center, the chalkboard.

ALCOVE SEATING... Snug

The bench seating that goes around the table reminds us of alcove dining areas that are dimly lit and comfortable with its cushions and throw pillows. Cozy.

AMBIENCE... It's just cozy

Keeping it casual is the best way to keep it inviting, thus, cozy.