It's All About the Gray

When searching for the PERFECT color for your next project, consider going gray. Not only is gray a very pleasing color that automatically creates a very soothing flow to a room, but it has also been deemed the color trend for 2013. Everyone is love lovin' gray! 

Maybe gray come's off as an intimidating color- but don't be afraid! Gray come's in so many different shades you can paint your soft beach house in this color or save it for your contemporary kitchen. If the idea of going completely GRAY still scares you-- consider doing a color with a gray undertone. Color's that pull gray are going to be very pleasing to the eye as well as warm up any room. Gray just loves to be painted onto your walls! Trust me. A few of my most favorite shades of gray--

WHITES

Heron Plum 6070

                                                  Snowfall 6000

GRAYS

Lazy Gray 6254

PURPLES

                                                         Mysterious Mauve 6262                                                                  Exclusive Plum 6263

                               Soulmate6270                                                               Swanky Gray 6261

PINKS

                    Breathless 6022                     Dressy Rose 6024

GREENS

Dried Thyme 6186

Grassland 6163

BLUES

Meditative 6227

Rain 6219

BROWNS

                       Mink 6004

                                Spalding Gray 6074

Utterly Beige 6080

Amber Gannon

THM Remodeling Services

Interior Designer

801.648.5939

thmassist@gmail.com

The June Trend

Color Trend:
The June color trend is looking a little Shabby Chic to me! The vintage "old fashioned" look is going to be super popular this summer! When looking for paint color or home accent's try to find thing in the Shabby Chic palette! Think sea foam green, blues, teals, peaches, and tans. Very mellow and cool tones! Also, spice up a neutral color palette with a distressed piece of furniture, some white nick knacks, and  floral prints!

DIY

This summer, don't let your cold drinks ruin your furniture! DIY coasters are a super EASY and chic way to keep your furniture fresh and your home classy! Buy 20 cent glass or ceramic tiles from Home Depot, some of your favorite scrapbook paper from Joanne's Crafts, and modge podge your paper to the tiles. After this dries, clear coat the coasters with a clear acrylic spray! The whole job will coast you about $4 if you already own modge podge!

Tips & Tricks

It's super easy to add some character to your home when you're on a budget. When thinking Shabby Chic think, chandeliers, mute colors, floral prints, pearls, lace, mismatched furniture, distressed woods, and antique's. You can find a lot of your decor at antique or thrift shops- even the DI! Don't be afraid to turn someone's trash into your treasure. Turn an old tin milk jug into a centerpiece with flowers on your table, an old entertainment center can be repainted and distressed for little cost, and you can find discount fabric and burlap from your local fabric store and create your own accent pillows using batting. Don't be afraid to get creative and give your home the character it deserves! 

Shabby Chic

Kitchen designs, bathroom designs, and more ∨

Discover inspring landscaping ideas and find a top local landscape contractor or residential landscape architect to plan your garden landscape.
Collect and share photos of bathroom tile, bathroom vanities, shower curtains and bathroom mirrors to create your perfect home decorating style.

The Power of Couponing

I am a big fan of couponing. In fact, I am a big fan of saving money in general! I have researched around trying to find some of the best deals and finally hit a small jackpot! Please let me know if you have heard of any other places, but so far these are a few of my most favorites!

1. 3 Boys and a Dog has an easy to read chart which printable coupons from sites she recommends. She also has a great page that covers coupon lingo.
2. The Greenbacks Gal is your go to site for Organic Coupons.
3. Luv a Bargain walks us through  how to start using coupons and she also shares resources for printable coupons.
4. Crystal & Co shares printable coupons and great deals through out the week.
5. Money Saving Mom- great site for coupons and ways to save money period.
6. Surviving the Stores shares printable coupons and great information on where to begin.
7. Grocery Shop for Free has a great coupon database.

After doing some searching on Pinterest I came across a blog that listed the following to be her personal favorites:

1. Moms by Heart
2. The Q Tipping Mom
3. Coupon Network
4. Southern Savers
5. Passion for Savings
6. Faithful Provisions
7. The Krazy Coupon Lady
8. Coupon Mom
9. We Use Coupons
10. Mommy Saves Big
11. Hip2Save
12. Caring with Coupons 
13. Free Coupon Alerts

As a mom I understand keeping up on couponing can be a giant pain, but just think of all the money you will save by just doing it! It doesn't ever hurt to just try it for a month of so - if it's not for you, then so be it!

2013 Trends

10 Remodeling Trends for 2013

What will be some of the TOP 2013 trends for home remodeling, you ask?

Ready...

Set....

GO!

1. Go Green~

The main trend for 2013 is going to be using eco-friendly materials within your remodel and/or build. Everyone wants to live a healthy lifestyle and it is looking to be pretty popular over the next year. Contractors are going to be asked more and more to GO GREEN!

2. Kitchen Cabinet Style~

A sleek kitchen cabinet (borderline contemporary) is going to be the most popular this year. Something EASY: Easy to clean, easy to look at, easy all around. The sleek look is becoming more and more popular and the contemporary look is being mixed in with different "themes" to better create the look!

3. Let's Talk Countertops~

Out with the old in with the NEW! Granite is SO YESTERDAY! If you want to jump on the trend wagon you best be looking into Quartz! Quartz is about 25% more expensive then granite but with price you get QUALITY! Quartz is virtually maintenance free and is 100% sealed. I like to say this countertop is bullet proof!

4. The Look of Hardwood~

The look of hardwood is so POPULAR! Carpet is really sitting on the back burner this year to make room for tile and hardwood. Whether you do authentic hardwood, engineered hardwood, or hardwood looking TILE - there is really an option for everyone and every lifestyle and the "look" of hardwood is definitely growing more popular!

5. Decorate That Backsplash in Glass~

The decorated backsplash is growing more and more popular! Glass tile may be too trendy for some people but whether you do a little or a LOT - glass is the trend for 2013! Some people may do the whole backsplash where others might do a "rug" of glass tile behind the stove top. Whatever you choose, glass tile is a beautiful touch to any kitchen theme!

6. Stylish Simple Sinks~

The two part sink is growing less and less popular every year! This year the trendy sink is going to be a one part over-sized, "simple", sleek appeal sink! 

7. Color Trend~

The 2013 color trend is going to be shades and hues of gray! Anything from the contemporary charcoal or gray to blue's and green's with gray hue's is going to be popping up in a lot of remodeled homes. Neutrals are going to be sitting this year out it looks like!

8. The Elegant Bath~

Bathroom trends are leaning towards marble in 2013! Whether you use a real marble, engineered marble, or a cultured marble with gray veins - you are going to be apart of this elegant trend! People are loving the sleek marble countertop look and it's even getting popular in tub surrounds and shower walls! 

9. A Touch of Sparkle~

Touches of "sparkle" will be popping up a lot more this year! Whether you have some sparkle specks in your countertop, a sparkle in your backsplash, or some sparkling lighting - you are going to want to be apart of this trend! Sparkles bring light to a room, make the room inviting, and it's timeless!

10. In It For The Long Run~

People in 2013 are going to want to remodel there home to STAY. It is so much cheaper to stay in your existing home and remodel it then move into a new home. We just did a remodel for a woman who lived in a very high end neighborhood, in a colonial style home, 3 levels, 4 baths. To remodel the ENTIRE home was about $500,000 CHEAPER then move into something of similar value. Make the kitchens roomier, choose options that will be easier to keep clean, choose materials with little maintenance, give yourself more storage options, 

and virtually remodel your home to stay.

7 Uses for Tension Rods

I don't know if you have seen this story floating around Pinterest -- BUT I have! And I think it is absolutely fabulous! There are so many uses for tension rods around the home! Tension rods are usually fairly inexpensive and sometimes you can even find them at dollar stores or the Family Dollar store for cheap cheap cheap!

I found on Pinterest 8 different uses that are going to THRILL you if you haven't already seen this post and been thrilled! 

^ Shoe Divide! ^

^ Extra Storage For Small Items - Like Spices! ^

^ A Spray Painted Tension Rod=Curtain Rod for Awkward Places! ^

^ Storage for Lids! ^

^ Help Store Cutting Boards & Cooking Sheets! ^

^ Ribbon and/or Wrapping Paper Storage! ^

^ Make a Small Space Fit More! ^

Easter Dreaming!

So I have been on the hunt all morning searching for fun/easy St. Patrick's Day DIY, crafts, and recipes. Unfortunately  I was unsuccessful  I am sorry but the green pancakes, green tinsel wreathes, and 4 leaf clover crafts just were not my cup of tea! 

So-- I have decided to move on to another spring holiday...

Easter.

Ahh Easter, the true beginning of spring -- Can you just smell summer right around the corner? Because when I think Easter... I think summer is on it's way!

So, unfortunately I am not going to entertain green food this morning.. but I will entertain a fabulous Easter DIY wreath! Who doesn't want something fabulous and decorative on their front door? Plus, who else is guilty of still having their Christmas wreath up?? (only me?)

DIY Easter Wreath! 

(click the image for DIY instructions)

Who doesn't love keeping the kids and grand kids happy while you're cooking up Easter dinner? Why not give them a craft to do! You can always do the good ol' sugar cookie frosting, coloring book pages, decorating eggs (which they probably already did the night before), or.... make foam cup bunnies?? Why not!

Easy Easter Crafts!

(click the image for DIY instructions)

Now... note that I said -- While you are making dinner. So what did you plan to make? I don't know about you, but my family always has a huge Easter lunch or dinner! What about some Bunny Bait for the kids, Apple Cider Pork & Potatoes with Roaster Asparagus for dinner, and Zippy Cinnamon Rolls for dessert? Ta-Dah!

Easter Dinner!

(click the image for cooking instructions)

His & Hers

His Style Meets Her Taste!

When you decide to spend forever with that "special" someone... you also decide to spend forever with their "special" sense of home decor! 

How do you make a gender neutral happy home, you ask?

EASY!

I promise.

But first-- what makes her space feminine.. and what makes his space so masculine? Obviously, you walk into a pink room and it screams woman... and dark leather couches and plain walls cries man.. but really what is it?

Meet: The Woman.

It's not always the obvious PINK that makes a room feminine. There are a lot of feminine touches that can make any room scream wife. 

Exhibit A.

Sure the room is completely PINK.. but wait.. what else do you see?

WOMANLY TOUCHES~

Note: The use of one color yet different shades throughout the entire room. It doesn't matter if it's blue, pink, red or yellow -- no man would do this.

Now notice the chandelier -- a very womanly touch of room character.

Now take a look at the floral print pillows -- enough said.

Notice the sheer curtains -- femininity at it's finest!

**Now I am not going to say -- Note the fur on the bed. Because, this doesn't necessarily need to be categorized as feminine. In fact, a lot of men find a fur look cozy -- Think man cave. Now the pink instantly makes this room sing the praises of woman -- but a white fur can make it into the "new home" with your man EASILY! :)

Meet: The Man.

When I think man -- I think man cave, plaid furniture  leather, plain walls, and  dark woods. Your thought's might be different.. they might be the same. Let's just assume they are the same - No woman wants a plaid couch. No woman.

Exhibit B.

Now what do you see here?

MASCULINE TOUCHES~

Note the flowers on the table -- this is a small touch of decor (nice?) HOWEVER, no matter how many flower you put in this room - it is still going to be masculine! Why? Because of these reasons:

Plaid.

Dark Woods -- Accented by PLAID.

Plain walls.

Lack of color.

Plain windows -- without curtains or other coverings

A womanly touch to this room would be color!!!!

So how do you find happiness? Your man doesn't want to live in every little girls fairy tale . but you don't want to live in his man cave either. (Isn't that what the basement bedroom is for?)

Exhibit C.

Go with a more neutral color palette to create happiness. Some men can't do too much color. To add some sort of pop, maybe do a red accent pillow? Or a blue vase on the table?

Bring your feminine touches to the table by adding some much needed decor to the furniture, walls, and overall appearance of the room.

Bring some masculine touches with a neutral color palette, dark wood furnishings, and sleep appeal.

And bring that fur blanket, because.. why not?