More Amazing Idea Apps

I'm currently enjoying the disaster of the cable company moving our internet a month ahead of time… so bare with me while I post from my phone.

I am enjoying some great apps for home decorating and ideas that I wanted to add more on from my last post.

Redecorating and deciding what to keep and what to trash is no easy task ;). We decided on all new furniture for the whole first floor, leaving me with two offices, kithen, dining room, living room, and a small entry way to design. 

This is also the time where my things will fully merge with his. And some will get "lost" in the move… oops! 

So I find myself in a FLOOD of ideas and learning, from what goes with dark cherry floors, dark cabinets, do we repaint, etc.

Here are some of my LOVES and the organization I am loving to narrow down the field.

How will I decorate my white fireplace mantel? I like the mirror, probably some candles with a vase, but I need color pops. 

We have definately settled on a statement chair, and coordinating pillows with a darker couch.

2 kids and 2 dogs, I could never have white couches like this.

Which makes finding an idea hard- because with so much dark, without the color, most of what I find looks like above. How do I filter out all the ideas you ask?

• While looking online & through apps, keep in mind what is realistic.

• Find elements in the images that are similar to your home, a mantle, a corner, wood, carpet, cabinets etc. that you have in your own home.

• Stay organized! Sure each app has it's idea saver, but when you need to see them all at once, you don't want to print and waste all of that precious and expensive ink. Screen Shot! Pin to your Pinterest albums, find one area that works best for you. 

Meanwhile, here are the amazing apps I live for ideas.

[ Houzz ] I've mentioned it before, but I am in love.

[ Old Kings Lane ]

[ Joss & Main ]

[ Wayfair ] Don't forget their Facebook page- their ideas are stunning!

[ Restoration Hardware ] I love this store. It is on the pricey side, but everything is gorgeous. I redid my bedroom last winter with their amazing bedroom spreads. I will note that after falling in love with a quilt set of theirs, anything close to it at all that stores ran in the same price range. I checked target to Bed Bath Beyond, so the price isn't too outlandish.

[ Crate & Barrel ] From sofas, to kitchen requirements… this place amazed me. I used to joke that they only carried CB boxes on their commercials because their products were ugly, but wow was I surprised when I stepped in the store last week. Love love love. They have come a long way. 

• Take catalogs when you are in the stores. You will find better ideas here, than from pricy and advertisement ridden magazines.

On that note, I will end with some more amazing images. 

-> Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest

- That's Sew Mommy

Love the chairs.

Ottoman obsession. 

Not in love with the Spanish feel, but it looks great.

Mantle, yes, white couches, I wish.

Curtains, lighting, tables oh My! Love it all.

A great example of Houzz, and how easy it is to use.

Found this beauty on Pinterest. 

That's all for now! Ciao.

DIY Chalkboard Coming Soon!

Coming Soon! DIY Chalkboard. Promise!

Great Apps for New Home

Yes,

I have been missing! Here is what happened, very happy story. We have been living in a condo, arguing for two years on where to live. City, or country, types of homes, etc.

One day my Mother and I decided to browse an up and coming town, and THERE IT WAS! One week later, the papers were signed, and I have less than a month to paint, and pack, and move into my dream home.

I finished the chalk board calendar, just have been way too busy to get to it. The amount of papers to send in these days is almost violating, if I might say.

Now I am extremely obsessed with Pinterest, as if I wasn't before..... I was. I am. Follow me on Pinterest!

So much on my mind!

• How will I keep this big house clean?
• When will we finish the basement?
• What colors shall we paint?
• We need more furniture, what store should we go to? What theme will we use?
• Will we build a fire pit, a brick or stone patio, where in the yard?

I could go on forever. The good news is that the entire home is already painted a great beige color, and the front and back are completely landscaped. 

I'll spill the details. from top left, to right, on down in that order. Wood floors, cabinets, under that all counters but laundry room, carpet for upper floors. Master tile, flooring for laundry room, tile for back-splash in kitchen, counter for laundry, paint color, and white swatch for comparison.

We went with a brushed nickle and chrome mixture for finishes, double oven for my bread :), ah I just cannot wait. 

Here are my home tips for the week- Use technology organized and to your advantage!

Apps:

• Pinterest- Stay organized! Be detailed in your boards, from curtains to living room, etc. This app is dangerous though beware; well only in the sense that it is similar to the craft store and ending up with a craft list the size of a dinosaur. However, it is SO easy to simply add the tons of amazing things you find to another board, and move on- within seconds.
• Houzz- Great for ideas. Pinterest gives many more DIY and how to, yet the homes on here are astonishing. One thing I always keep in mind, is to ask, is it doable, or a lottery winning type of home. I look for homes with similar layouts, floors, counter or cabinet colors, and save the ones that do for my decorating ideas. This also allows for some paint identifiers, and some pricing on object in images.
• Home Depot- The big list for move in is appliances, yard, and house tools that you will need. This app has a great scanning feature for planning, when walking through the store, scan everything you love. Compare later. There are also so many more options online, and this app will list pricing on everything. Right now, they also have free shipping.
• Color Snap- If you are really into the colors or world around you, download this app, snap pictures wherever you go, and it will tell you the Sherwin Williams color that matches.
• Color Visualizer- This is also by Sherwin Williams, take a picture of your room, draw lines around the furniture, and choose the wall color. I like this idea for testing furniture at the stores with the color you may already have.
• Homestyler- Select a room, snap a pic or load it, and play around with furniture in the space.
• Zillow Digs- Note, this is not the Zillow real estate, yet similar to Houzz, and much more realistic in the fact that it is not for the millionaire's mansion. I am playing around with this one, and so far, all is good. More on voting, than saving to an idea book.

Well I could go on for hours, but I will save more details for later.

TSM

P.S. Follow me on Pinterest! ( Just click below)