$6 Powder Room Update for Spring

Spring is in the air so it's a good time to make some changes around the house.  One of my favorite rooms in our home is our first floor powder room.  It's funny because it started out as one of my least favorite rooms.  But a few years ago I embraced the white and gray tile and the grayish formica vanity.  I stopped focusing on how much I disliked it and instead used it as a jumping off point to create a space using my favorite color combination of blue, bronze, cream and gray.  

This time around the changes I made are subtle, but just enough to make it feel fresh to me.

It started by me finding these damask hand towels at Home Goods for $2.99 each.  They picked up on the damask wallpaper that I love in this bathroom.  I also loved the stripe at the bottom of the hand towels.  It gives these towels both a masculine and feminine feel. 

Then using my Silhouette machine, I transformed my plain white trash can and tissue box holder.  I used a damask design and cut it out on the machine.  To apply it I use clear contact paper which is a much more cost effective method of applying vinyl.  In minutes I completely changed the look of these accessories.

I actually used two different damask designs...one for the trash can and one for this tissue box holder.  It makes the accessories feel a bit more special.

It's funny how new hand towels and a little DIY project can make a space feel fresh and new.

How about you?  How have you been refreshing your spaces for Spring?

-Judy

Sharing with Savvy Southern Style

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Sharing with A Stroll Thru Life

When Perfect Isn't Really Perfect

For the past several years I have been on the lookout for a carved mirror for my dining room.  I wanted a large mirror that I could put above my buffet.  But of course, it seems once I get something stuck in mind, it's often very difficult for me to find that exact thing.  Then, when I least expect it

...I find it.

Here it is...sitting in the back of Home Goods.  A Drexel Heritage, gorgeous mirror.  It wasn't inexpensive at $250, but it was a deal, as I know that mirror is at least $500+ from Drexel Heritage.

I went and got the measuring tape from the store and measured it.  It was 42" x 64".  

Now that information was a bit useless, since I had no idea what the size of my buffet was, but I figured it had to be larger than 64" wide.  Worse case scenario, I figured I would hang it vertically if I had to.

The mirror is HEAVY.  I got someone to bring it up front and put it in the back of my minivan (which fits everything)  and I lugged it all the way home.

I was very excited.  

When I got it home I pulled it out of the back of my mini-van and then realized I could not get it up the stairs in the garage.  It is big and bulky and HEAVY (did I mention that already) and couldn't do it.  Luckily my friend stopped by and she helped me bring it in.

It was even more gorgeous in my dining room.

However, it was even larger than I realized in my dining room.

My buffet is 60" wide.  

The space above the buffet to the crown molding is 64" high.
The mirror is 42" x 64"

Do you see my issue???
To hang the mirror horizontally (which is what I thought I would do), the mirror would actually be wider than the buffet which would not look right at all.  The rule of thumb is that a mirror should be 2/3 the width of the piece of furniture you hang it above.
 Clearly this would be breaking the rules, and not in a good way.

To hang it vertically it would reach from the top of the buffet to the molding,
filling all of the space above the buffet.  

Here is an idea of what it would look like (I super-imposed it into the photo).

Here is another view:

I really want to keep this mirror.

Do you think it will look "wrong" if the mirror fits the entire space above the buffet (the mirror is 64" tall and I have 64" of space between the buffet and the molding)?

I could swap out the buffet for the server piece on the other side of the room, 

which gains me all of one inch (since the piece is an inch shorter).

I've searched the house and there really is no where else the mirror could go...

plus, this is really the room I want this mirror.

What are your thoughts?

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Fall into Fall party.

The link opens at 8pm EST.  

Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Home Goods Launches Stylescope

As most of you know, I am a huge Home Goods fan.  I try to "stop by" at least twice a week to do a walk through my local Home Goods to see what is new.  So when Home Goods contacted me to let me know that they have teamed up with interior designer and TV host Taniya Nayak to create the new Stylescope, I just had to share it with all of you.

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Home Goods describes Stylescope as a unique, one-question quiz that reveals your home design horoscope featuring 12 distinct design personalities.  Just as a horoscope determines your personality, Stylescope helps determine your design personality.  By simply choosing five images that make you happy from a predetermined list of choices, your Stylescope is revealed.  

There are twelve different Stylescope design personalities.

I took the quiz and it labeled my style as Farmhouse Glam. 

Who is Farmhouse Glam?

Home Goods says: 

Farmhouse Glam is the delicate, exquisite balance between beautiful femininity and rustic nonchalance. She's all about the discovery of unexpected sparkle amidst the less polished. She wears high heels and a denim jacket, a string of pearls and bare feet. And her home feels as special as it does comfortable.

Click here to take your own Stylescope.   

After receiving your Stylescope quiz results, the interactive Stylescope allows you to share your style, as well as decor tips and inspiration on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. 

Hope you take the quiz and I hope you will share your results with me.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Fall into Fall party.

The link opens at 8pm EST.  

Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Happiness is...

Happiness is...finding a beautiful little box.

This little box had to be mine when I spied it at Home Goods.

I love the soft colors and the design.

It just makes me smile.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Swing into Spring party.

The party opens at 8pm EST.  Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Embellished Candlesticks

Finding the lamp at Home Goods has gotten the ball rolling on my decorating the

 top of the Ethan Allen table I scored at their warehouse sale.

You all know that I have a dream mirror in mind for over this dresser.

For now I hung a picture that was in a closet (it used to be in my daughter's room) over the dresser at the height that the mirror would hang.  I drew in where the mirror would extend to on the bottom (so please ignore the extra space below the artwork).  My dream mirror is a venetian style mirror, so I thought decorating the top of this dresser with mostly crystal would be the way to go.  I have a gorgeous square crystal bowl that we received as a favor at a company party a few years ago (back when companies gave extravagant gifts).  I also have many crystal candlestick holders that we have acquired over the years...I think most we got at our engagement party a million years ago). 

I needed something to fill the crystal bowl with.  I found this assortment at Home Goods.

It's not so easy to find nice taper candles.  In fact, it's darn near impossible. 

 I found these pretty ones at Bed, Bath and Beyond...6 for $5.  

I loved the color, but they were just a little boring.

Using self-adhesive pearls and self-adhesive ribbon, I embellished my plain-jane tapers, 

to make them something special...

It was a simple way to glam up my candles.

I can't wait to hear what you think!!

-Judy

The Best Home Goods Ever

As you know I spent the weekend in Binghamton.  While I was there I passed a Home Goods.  I actually debated whether or not to even go in.  Well it was the best Home Goods I have ever been in.  

They had the most beautiful things.  

I loved this chair covered in Dwell Studio fabric.  I wish I had somewhere to put it.

I had to walk away from this one.

I also walked away from this...

this...

and this.  This piece was from Drexel Heritage.  Someone bought this while I was there.  

This Home Goods was filled with so many quality things.

What I didn't walk away from was two lamps.  This is the first one.  I fell in love with this lamp.

I just adore the shape of the base.

I also think the gray oval shade coordinates perfectly with the Lladro in my master bedroom.

It is also the perfect height to balance the flowers in the crystal vase I have on the other side of the dresser.  I don't know why I didn't have a lamp here in the first place.
It looks like it has always been there.

The other lamp I couldn't walk away from is this beauty.  It is on my new Ethan Allen table.  For now I have just hung artwork at the height that my "dream" mirror would hang
(that's why there is so much space below the picture).  

The base on this lamp is beautiful too.

I am a big fan of all things crystal so of course these tear drops sold me.

Of course, the pleated shade is right up my alley too.  I just adore this lamp.
Is it wrong to be this excited about two lamps???  I hope not.

Any idea which one cost $40 and which one cost $80?

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Swing into Spring party.

The party opens at 8pm EST.  Hope to see you then.

-Judy