Uppercase living website offers some of the most unique wall decor concepts that I have ever seen! This company creates, manufactures and distributes beautiful decorative vinyl lettering and images, of which many are individually designed.

This company has an endless idea catalog as well…

Inspired by a Ballard Design catalog, we chose the soothing green wall paint color with black accents. It makes for a stunning contrast!

But, my main effort came in the closet we opened up for decorative storage. Adding two more shelves we also utilized a low antique dresser. The black storage baskets really popped against the soft contrasting gold paint color on walls and shelving.

Besides the black accessories we used in a bookcase and desk accessories, we also tied in the oak of a cherished roll top desk and high standing antique table for craft projects.

We have another day of sorting knitting, craft, sewing, office and music supplies to get this room into a smooth work area for it’s owner. When that’s accomplished, we’ll have a photo shoot and show it off!

Stay tuned….

Home Office by Closet Tailors

Home offices with inviting hardwood flooring, soothing shades of paint and tons of ways to store everything you intend to work on in that space, is invaluable!

Even if you can’t tackle the entire project at once, moving toward an organized home office is rewarding.

LifeOrganizers.com gives 7 steps to organizing an office. I agreed with every point so I’m posting them here for you:

1.   TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE POT. The first thing I’d suggest is that 1 person be in charge of the supplies, whether taking supplies out, or putting supplies back in. This person is either going to be you, or someone you delegate this responsibility to.

2.   DIVIDE AND CONQUER. One of the reasons that it’s so difficult to find things is because everything is just stacked, one item on top of another and one item in front of another. Try dividing supplies, especially the smaller ones, into labeled organized containers. Covered, plastic Rubbermaid containers work well here, especially the ones you could see through. They stack nicely on top of each other, without toppling. Make sure each container is labeled; not on top — in front so you can immediately identify the contents.

3.   EMPTY IT OUT. In order to truly organize that cabinet, it’s going to have to be emptied out completely.
4.   PLAN AND DESIGNATE. You might consider designating each shelf a different category:

• Shelf A: Computer Supplies (disks, disk holders)
• Shelf B: Desk Supplies (paper clips, pens, labels)
• Shelf C: Large Pads of Paper and Larger Items

5. TAKE AN INVENTORY. As you’re putting the supplies back into the cabinet, make a running list of everything inside (do this on your computer, alphabetically within each section A, B, and C.) Also list how many of each item you currently have while you’re at it.

6. GIVING OUT SUPPLIES. When somebody needs supplies, they should ask you for them. You can give them what they need, while adjusting how many are now left on the list. (Example: If there were 12 – 1 inch binders and someone just took 5, then there are 7 left.) Indicate this on your list. (By the way, if you’re using the computer for this list, it will be easier to update.)

7.   KEEPING TRACK. Once you notice that a particular office supply is running low, you can simply re-order, without having to take a physical inventory of the cabinet.

by Maria Gracia – Get Organized Now! http://www.getorganizednow.com

Photo courtesy of Home and Gardens

I know the rage is all about “going green” as in terms of: eco-friendly, green-living, sustainable, etc. In that arena, we are saturated with environment friendly tips from every source. But, the “going green” I am quite interested in lately is the fresh ways to decorate with one of the friendliest colors yet. I especially love the shade of green found in new spring grass. Maybe with snow still on the ground, I’m just getting itchy for that warmer season that brings this color to the forefront.

Better Homes and Gardens says about the color green, “Using green in decorating has endless possibilities. It has infinite variations and blends easily with every other hue.”

This past week, I had the privilege of escaping back to Grand Junction to do a little shopping for our next project. With green already on my mind, I noticed it everywhere!

What I also observed while studying magazines, decorating books and observing displays, is that green is especially stunning when accented with black or white or both. Green also shows off when paired with another shade of green. And green has a way of creating a natural harmony in your home – no matter which room you choose to paint this restful yet cheery color.

Green Bedroom Accented with Black and White

If you take a cue from nature, you will see green everywhere. Do you notice how every color it is around – always makes that color stand out?

Well, I’m excited about my next project. You guessed it, I’m definitely planning on making green the center of attention. I also have plans to use it to accent the furniture piece I wish to showcase. I’ll let you see what I come up with…

From our Recent Poll on which room in the house is the most important to update the results were:

Kitchens are the most important room in the house to update!

My ‘comment’ on that was that kitchens are the heart of the home and when it is organized, pretty and functional – the rest of life goes easier. Agree?

You can leave your comments below!

Personally, I’m looking forward to my next kitchen redecorating project even though I don’t have one on the list yet. Actually, I am now starting on a project to redecorate a home office. Stay tuned…

Where we live in rural Colorado, running down to Bed, Bath and Beyond to pick up that perfect bath rug or stopping by the mall to take advantage of their sale on towels in the departments stores is well…not an option! To reach any kind of mall, we drive 90 miles one way. And so we did, this past Thursday to select the final finishing touches for Jo’s bathroom makeover. Want to see? It was worth the trip!

White Wood Mirrors

Another view...

We located the perfect mirrors to match our cottage look – two with white frames and charming traditional rosettes in each corner.

Towel Hook for Shower

Shiny chrome towel hook next to shower was our next find along with the hand towel ring, both looking stylish with the white fluffy towels.

Hand Towel Ring

Last, we added more thick white towels and soft yellow wash cloths in our new storage area in the open vanity.

New towels and wash cloths

Personal Haven? I’m thinking so!

Antique Tub

Vintage Shaving Collection

Creative, exciting and practical design tips for displaying and using antiques and collectibles in home and office decor can be found on this fun discussion forum – I Antique Online in the Decorating with Antiques and Collectibles Group. If you are a collector, this is one forum to join!

This adorable vintage figurine makes a perfect toothbrush holder! Again, from Jo’s bathroom makeover.

Vintage Figurine Collectible

Pamela Wiggins with about.com gives us eight great tips for decorating with antiques and collectibles, which include grouping like colors together and framing your collectibles.

One idea I plan to pursue, is in fact, framing a collection of vintage linens and crocheted articles with coordinated colored matting to compliment a room makeover. Keep checking back, you’ll probably see the finished product right here on this site!

Feel free to share your ideas with us!

"Cottage Style Bathroom"

“Remodeling or redecorating a bathroom can pay off right from the start. Your home will be more comfortable and you’ll add value to the property,” says experts on about.com.

But knowing exactly what you want to ultimately accomplish is your first goal when recreating in your bathroom space.

If you’ve been following Jo’s School-House-Cottage-Retreat posts, you know that she came home to a brand new bedroom that she has thoroughly been enjoying. But, what you may not know is that we began taking preparation steps in the bathroom area at the same time, utilizing Jo’s wish list that she had previously discussed regarding changes she would like to see in her main bathroom.

Large cabinet vanity area

First of all, Jo had a massive bathroom cabinet vanity in a small space. Even though it may be a dream to have twelve drawers and two large under sink storage areas, it was more than Jo needed and it took up too much precious square footage. Also, the vanity depth actually extended to 24 inches into the galley style room.

24 inch deep vanity space

Jo had been dreaming and pulling magazine pics (an excellent way to get started on a make-over) and knew she liked the new look in open vanities. She felt it would also open up the room to which I wholeheartedly agreed.

Pulling out the existing vanity would require replacing the vinyl linoleum. And trading in the 1980′s wallpaper for a fresh look, brought in options for the walls.  With Jo’s tastes in mind, I tackled the daunting tasks at hand, while Jo was out ‘playing’ in the sun.

1980's wall paper and style

BEFORE: Blue-green color scheme

Unfortunately, I did not take my camera with me the day of the demo so that fun aspect you will just have to imagine. But, let me say that having a team on hand is critical. With our competent plumber, Greg Garret, our master carpenter, Tim Sheeran and my all-around-efficient husband, we had the project underway and making strides to a new look in no time.

Keeping the ‘cottage look’ going but bringing in a touch of modern spa, I  chose bead board to cover the walls, white tile for the flooring,  cherry stained wood and white tile top for the custom vanity, white woodwork for all the trim and wall cabinets, the soft yellow from our original color palette and shiny chrome for the hardware and fixtures. The combination is becoming stunning!

Here are a few peek photos even though we don’t have all the accessories in place yet.

White Porcelain Tile Flooring

This is the finished pretty white porcelain tile flooring (with vanity in process of being stained and cabinet doors yet to be hung).

Finished white cabinet door with hardware

I had the beaded board inserted into the existing cabinet doors to bring the same look to the entire room. Then painted them all with a fresh coat of pure white. The chrome and white hardware adds the perfect touch.

White satin stripe shower curtain

The white satin strip shower curtain with new chrome rod and chrome and white bead shower hooks brings in a luxurious spa feeling.

Vanity Daisy Fresh with shiny chrome and crystal accessories

Kohler faucets in shiny chrome and vintage look porcelain

Today, Jo and I spent the afternoon sorting through all the boxes of ‘stuff’ that came out of the bathroom before the renovation started. After editing out ‘rarely used’ to ‘never used’ items, we had a party putting back the ‘often used’ items into new areas including an old galvanized tub that once bathed three little girls, chrome containers and of course, our cabinets on the wall. Organization in the bathroom is organization at it’s best.

Even though we don’t have a single item from Pottery Barn…yet, I would call the “look” we have going so far very much right out of their catalog! It’s fresh yellow and white, clean and open, with fun modern spa touches sprouting in the room. And above all, it feels spacious – the main goal we hoped to accomplish when we started.

We have more accessories to get into place which we will add in the next few weeks – like mirrors, an antique shelf to house an antique shaving accessory collection, soft plush rugs and towels and other important items to make this bathroom makeover far from ordinary. In fact, it is sure to become Jo’s Personal Haven!

(Stay tuned for more photos.)

After charting your decorating course for a room and executing on the plan, it’s still the fun little details that bring the sweetest satisfaction.

In Jo’s room, it was…

The last decorating pillow with gingham bows and a new plaid with complimentary shades of color – again created by our friend, Brenda, the seamstress extraordinaire.

Decorative Pillow

The fabric stitched on the storage bin handles to match the curtain fabric…

Fabric handles

The stunning rocking chair pad in cheery red/white gingham custom made by Brenda Stewart.

Rocking Chair Gingham Custom Pad

The special corner arranged for a favorite hobby with woven white basket to hold flute case and music and the music stand nearby.

Music Corner

The handmade angel string freshened up with touches of all the fabrics used in the room.

Angel String with fabric touches

The handy hook rack in the open closet to hang a soft bathrobe or other clothing articles, painted in the crisp white of the room’s woodwork.

Handy Hook Rack

The special book case with favorite books and teacher mementos from past teaching days.

Antique Book Case with Teacher Momentos

The family treasures and photographs, nestled in the closet storage.

Family Treasures

More Family Treasures

And last of all, the detail of Jo’s return and sheer joy in seeing and living in the completed bedroom make-over.

Jo's smile

Cottage Bedroom Coming Together!

The refinished bed contrasted wonderfully with the white battenburg lace duvet, shams, pillows and other accessory pillows.  The ‘cottage’ curtains provided the perfect backdrop for Jo’s sleeping space. Sweet dreams await!

Cottage Bedroom - another angle.

Here’s the piece of furniture we used for a side table…an old school desk! Even though the top is slanted slightly, we were able to compensate for the lamp and it will easily hold any needed bedside articles. Also, the seat makes a good place to throw your robe or stack reading books.

School Desk Bedside Table

Next week, we will show off the “details” of this cheery, cozy bedroom. We have several still in the making and you won’t want to miss them!