November | 2009 | The Mudroom

Archive for November, 2009

Five Ideas: Holiday Tabletops

Posted in Décor, Make It, Reinvent It, Shop It, Tabletop on November 24, 2009| Leave a Comment »

When hosting a party, I enjoy cooking (sort of), but my favorite part is creating fun, interesting and unexpected tabletops (elegant is great too, but they’ve gone the way of the Dodo since kids…too much pressure). If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, click over to Boston Mamas for some last-minute easy ideas to make your tabletop shine. (Yep, it’s true…two Boston Mamas columns in two weeks!)

What easy tabletop ideas do you have? Share them here!

Image credit: Randy Weiner, Flickr (cool pic, don’t you think?)

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Inspiration by IdeaPaint

Posted in Décor, Inside the Mudroom, Organization, Reinvent It, Shop It, Walls on November 23, 2009| 3 Comments »

I’ve made it a personal mission to ensure that my kids don’t grow up creatively stunted (like their mama who didn’t find her inner creative streak until age 35). So when I was given an opportunity to test IdeaPaint, I was stoked (as were my kids). Check out the full review in my latest column at Boston Mamas. Enjoy!

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Color Palette Web Tool

Posted in Décor, Make It, Reinvent It on November 12, 2009| 4 Comments »

When choosing paint and fabric for my home, I’m often inspired by fashion — the way textures and colors play off of each other in a terrific outfit. Using an ivory cashmere cowl neck, skinny camel wool pants, chocolate suede boots and gold bangles as a starting point will result in a room very different from, say, a classic Lilly cotton shift and lime green Jack Rogers.

The next time you start a decorating project, snap a picture of your inspiration (whether it’s a Michael Kors ad or a Vermont farm) and check out the Color Palette Generator from BigHugeLabs — a freakin’ fabulous (and free) web tool that converts photos into color palettes.

An ensemble created by Mrs. O (one of my MOST favorite blogs) at Closet Couture…

…turns into this palette!

Mrs. O palette

Cool, huh?

So tell me, when it come to decorating, are you most inspired by nature, fashion, homes or something else completely?

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Paper Plates = Art

Posted in Art, Décor, Make It, Reinvent It, Walls on November 4, 2009| 2 Comments »

Is anyone else totally inspired by the interiors of Anthropologie stores? I’ve always favored their clothes and housewares, but even just walking into their retail locations is an experience. I love that every store is different — each location has its own interior stylist/visual artist, going way beyond the “merchandising” at regular retail that follows a prescribed map of where and how items should be laid out. Without fail, I gather inspiration from the walls, ceiling, music, floors, etc. each time I visit Anthro. Just check out the latest installation at the store in my ‘hood…

Anthro clouds 2

Cloud sculpture made out of paper plates…amazing! Reminded me instantly of the brilliant paper plate chandelier that Nathan Thomas created for the dining room in his winning townhouse on Bravo’s Top Design…

Both of these are definitely going on my Flattery Board (or Inspiration for Imitation Board)…

Image credits: Paige Lewin’s Blackberry, Elle Decor

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DIY Side Table

Posted in Décor, Furniture, Make It, Reinvent It on November 3, 2009| 3 Comments »

We’ve been needing a side table next our living room couch for a ridiculously long time, but it seems that every one I find that I love, is just a little too big, a little too shmancy, or a little out of our price range. I was getting desperate, and in a creative fury went whipping around the house to find the makings of a side table that would hold our cocktails and appys (I mean, sippy cups and goldfish) until we were ready to commit the cash to something really fabulous. Turns out, I like my DIY version better than most I’ve seen.

Wood tray from Target and a vintage plant stand…