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Tag: decor

  • Dreaming of Kids Rooms

    Dreaming of Kids Rooms

    I decided to start my new year off with a room makeover for the kids. I haven’t actually tackled anything in there yet, but it is the first home project I’ll be doing this year. It seems every time we move, we have to completely revamp our toy storage and organization system.

    I’ve spent a lot of time just staring at the girls room, and trying to figure out what I can do to make it work for all of us. The kids get so overwhelmed when it’s time to clean up, because in order to get something out, they usually have to pull out every toy to find what they want.

    I have some idea of how the room is going to look when I am done, but that’s just

    Just a quick sketch of the layout I’m planning. 
    I’ve been browsing online for more ideas of room setups, and toy storage.  Here’s a couple I’m going to try and recreate. 
    I love this Stuffed Animals on Velcro idea!  I found it on Pinterest, and haven’t been able to find a direct source for it (if this is your photo, please let me know!) If I put a strip above each mattress the kids can sleep with their stuffed animals, and keep them off the floor. It will make bed making easier too. 
    On my sketch the doll house is sitting right inside the door to the room. I found this doll storage again on pinterest (no credit again), to hang over the door. Giving them quick and easy access to play with and pick them up. 
    I’ve had this lazy suzan shelf on my pinterest board for awhile now. I think the girls would really love having this in their reading area. The cork board provides a place to hang all their art, and school projects. 
    Source
    In my email early this week, I got these fun tips from (affiliate) Zulily that I also loved. Tip #1 is my biggest need! Easy access of the most used toys!  
    I can’t wait to get started in the girls room!  Of course we’ll have to go through all the toys and clothes first, and get rid of any old/broken/unused items first, then we’ll have fun putting the room back together. 
    What are your tips for kids rooms?
  • Dressing up a 70’s Home – Japanese Style

    Dressing up a 70’s Home – Japanese Style

    Our home was built in the mid-late 70’s. Besides the outside structure, many of the inside features were still a throwback to the 70’s. One specifically I hope you can all imagine, is the shag carpet on the WALLS of our basement stairwell. Though they may have had the right idea – talk about sound control.  Many of the prominent walls are also covered in wall paper (as well as the inside of every cupboard, and random patches in the bathroom….).

    My favorite feature though, is the glass mirrored wall in our family room.

    The picture doesn’t quite do it justice. It is actually a black mirror with tan veins running through it. When we first moved in, I wanted this wall to go. It has since grown on me as Mark and I have debated what we could do with it.

    Mark’s parents have been living in Japan for the past 5 years. We were lucky enough to visit them one year for Christmas. Since then, Mark and I have looked for ways to incorporate some Japanese style into our home. This wall gave us the inspiration. We’ll start with a simple buffet table in the center.
    Finn Sideboard

    Something like this from One King’s Lane Day of Furniture Sale (70% off Home Furnishings now until Thursday 1/31). 
     
    A table like this would be the perfect centerpiece for displaying our Japanese Dolls I picked up at the outdoor Mall in Sasebo. We could then store all the china we also purchased inside the cupboard – and let me tell you, we purchased china! From little sake cups to rice bowls. Sadly we’ve never had a good place to keep them.
     
     
     
     
     
    
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Hanging behind the buffet table I would mount my silk Kimono – a must I insisted on purchasing. Really, who goes to Japan and doesn’t come home with a Kimono? They were hard to find though in a price range I could afford. Thankfully there were plenty of consignment stores to browse around.
     
    Framing the Kimono would be our Japanese scrolls that Grandma P sent the kids for Christmas. 
    
    
     
    Can you picture it?  Let’s go back to our Black Wall – now add the table, dolls, kimono and scrolls. Picture it on a white wall – now go back to the black wall. What a difference right? I can’t wait to get started putting it all together. I just have to decide which table I want now…
     
     
    
     
    *This is a sponsored post for One Kings Lane. All opinions are my own. One Kings Lane is having a special Furniture Day Sale from 1/29-1/31. Up to 70% off some amazing home decor items from your living room to your patio. 
  • Making a Gingerbread House {Wordless Wesnesday}

    Making a Gingerbread House {Wordless Wesnesday}

    We picked up these gingerbread house kits at Ikea the last time we were there. 
    The kids had a lot of fun making their own home with candies like they like.
  • Home Essentials for the Fall

    Home Essentials for the Fall

    Have I told you how much I love fall? yeah, I may have mentioned it a time or two, or three, or every post. I just love this season!! Something about the cool crisp air is just so refreshing, and brings out the ambition in me.

    Every home needs these essentials when Fall weather hits
     
    Warm blankets, scattered all around the house. My kids are sleeping with up to 6 blankets each the last few nights.
     
    Great reading materials and a mug of hot cocoa or apple cider
     
    And lastly you need a place to enjoy it all.
    I love my couch and huge picture window. On sunny days I enjoy letting the sun shine through and just basking in it’s rays.
     
    I hope you are all enjoying fall, where ever you may be.
  • My dream Entryway

    My dream Entryway

    When we first looked at this house, I fell in love with the entryway. It was the entryway from my dreams. Huge Ceilings, plenty of space to decorate, and almost romantic. If we were buying instead of just renting, I had big plans for this space!
    The out-dated red carpet would be the first to go. I was all set to rip that up, and polish down the original hard wood underneath. The paneling I still have mixed feelings on, but since we’re not staying here, I guess it doesn’t matter too much. The side wall, I really wanted to get a console table. Something like this one from One Kings Lane
    Allegra 3-Drawer Console
     
    I’ve also got my umbrella bucket just behind the door for easy access, but out of sight of guests. Right now it has the kids umbrellas, but I’d love to add a more stylish umbrella for me.
    Travel Lite Umbrella, Tulip Yellow
     
    Lighting is also very important in the entryway. Our current entryway relies on light from door window and the adjoining rooms.  If I were to add lighting to this rental it would be something like this cascade chandelier
    Cascade Chandelier
    OK, it might be a tad out of budget…and probably always will be, but it would really be gorgeous in this entryway!
    I’ve been browsing One Kings Lane (if you couldn’t tell), because they were having a huge entryway sale this week (ending tomorrow). I’ve been dreaming about all the fun stuff I could have done to this entryway, had we decided to buy the house.
     
    *This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up to One Kings Lane using one of these links, you will receive a $15 credit, and be helping Home Maid Simple continue to bring you wonderful home decor posts!