Creating Your Home Sweet Home! Going For The Gold!

Creating Your Home Sweet Home!  Going For The Gold!

Like me, I’m sure that most of you are loving getting outside, working in your yards, and enjoying the beautiful spring weather we’re having now!  Perhaps you’re even doing a little spring cleaning inside too; I always like to think that when we work hard to freshening up our homes for the season, it provides the perfect excuse to update a few décor items!  (I’ll admit, I have to convince my husband of the brilliance of my ideas sometimes!) 

Although I might not have “fessed up” to it a few years ago when the emphasis in house décor seemed to be any and all things silver, I’ve always loved warm jewel tones and the burnished gold color palette when it came to decorating my home.  However, now that my daughter, an interior designer, has informed me that the pendulum has swung more to the middle as far as the role metallic elements play in designing our homes–where even combining several, different metal features is acceptable, I can happily share with you some of the things I have come to love lately about decorating with gold!

Creating Your Home Sweet Home! Going For The Gold! www.mytributejournal.com I know, I know–you’re probably thinking, but decorating with gold tends to be so formal and can get down right gaudy…

Libeaces over-the-top home decor! www.mytributejournal.com

…much like the living room of the late, Vegas piano performer, Liberace, who was well-known for his love of lavish gold furnishings.  Liberace’s signature style at all his shows was to place a gold candelabra on his gold piano!  Wowza!

A Few Of My Favorite Gold Home Decorations:

  • This black metal side table in my daughter, Malia’s, home, along with the other accessories, captures perfectly the fun, eclectic look you can achieve when you pair various metals together.

Creting Your Home Sweet Home! Going For The Gold. www.mytributejurnal.com

 A bronze frame, a gold container and a black metal table–love it! 

(This gold container, from Pottery Barn, has even come in handy when my two granddaughters have needed a place to store a few doll accessories when they’re playing house!  Ha!) 

  • Circa 80’s suburban homes definitely paid tribute to the wallpaper craze of that era, so the thought of hanging wallpaper in my home tends to give me anxiety, but the new modern wallpapers available today are making me rethink my aversion to this decorating option!

Gold wallpaper from I Love Wallpaper www.mytributejournal.com

  If I ever did get brave enough to try wallpaper again, don’t you think this crazy pattern, aptly titled “Messy Trees” (by the brand, “I Love Wallpaper”) seems a likely choice that blends well my love of a little sparkle and my husbands love of the great outdoors?

Home decor using wallpaper www.mytributejournal.com

Okay, so this nursery is staged to show off the wallpaper more than it is the practical elements of a baby’s first room…but seriously, how cute is this–and it gives you an idea of how far wallpaper design has come since the “good old days” –believe, me I know!      

  • I love having framed pictures all around my home, but pictures in gold frames…..well, all I can say is “Hello there, gorgeous!”

Going for the gold in home decor! www.mytributejournal.com

My grandmother was of the mindset that having pictures of loved ones around helped you count your blessings instead of your woes–I couldn’t agree more!

  • Perhaps the next best thing to fun family pictures in gold frames, are beautiful quotes printed in gold that help inspire us to be our best!

Sparkle quote www.mytributejournal.com

You can get this quote as a printable download from the shop, PrintedTreasures on Etsy.com–and yes, this is pretty much gold heaven as far as I’m concerned!

"Love" in gold www.mytributejournal.caom

If a rustic flare is more to your liking when it comes to gold décor, then how about this wood “love” sign–from the shop, StackedMemories also on Etsy.com.

(With your own stencil, this might be a fun DIY project–I think it would be a neat wedding gift too.) 

  • The glazed gold light fixtures that are available today are definitely not your mother’s bright, bronze gold!

Chandelier light fixtures www.mytributejournal.com

This light fixture that hangs in my daughter’s bathroom combines an oil-rubbed bronze finish with just a hint of gold patina on the wood to make it a beautiful focal point above her claw foot tub. 

As a designer, my daughter, Malia, says people often forget about the impact that good lighting and decorative fixtures can have on your overall home décor–she’ll often advise clients to be sure and budget for these.

Light fixtures with gold www.mytributejournal.com

 I love all the new pendant lighting styles available today in various metallic finishes–and how great does that industrial light look in antique gold! 

A Few More Gold Décor Ideas That  Are Sure To Give You Star Eyes:

Going For The Gold In Home Decor! www.mytributejournal.com

  • There’s nothing quite like a gold, gilded mirror to enhance a room’s ambience and give it some depth.  The one pictured above is from Ballard Designs. 
  • My favorite way to add a little bit of whimsy to a room is with some fun throw pillows.  This darling metallic bird pillow from thebluebirdshop.etsy.com is just perfect for spring!
  • Thrift shops are a great place to find vintage gold accessories to add the perfect touch of gold to your home décor.  @aedriel on Instagram always provides beautiful design inspiration.  (My mom gave me this same set of gold deer several years ago.)
  • I love the gold flower vase that was repurposed from a candle holder!  You can find more ideas like this on oscarbravohome.com

No matter what’s trending in home decor, I think it’s always important to include things you love–because if it’s special to you, it never goes out of style!

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I can’t help but be a little partial to this gold eagle figurine sitting by my son’s picture who is a dentist for the Army stationed in Grafenwoeher, Germany!  

Leave a comment and tell me what home décor colors and/or trends you are loving right now and you just might find yourself the lucky recipient of one of my favorite gold items!  

–Mary

Creating Your Home Sweet Home! Holiday Curb Appeal!

Creating Your Home Sweet Home!  Holiday Curb Appeal!

A fond childhood Christmas memory was when my family would drive up to my grandma’s house at this time of year and see all the pretty Christmas decorations that adorned her festive holiday porch!

Creating Your Home Sweet Home! Holiday Curb Appeal! www.mytributejournal.com

I especially loved the little wooden angel, similar to this one, that always hung on a small tree by my grandmother’s front porch.

Christmas Angel! www.mytributejournal.com

Although it was just a simple wooden carving, the angel symbolized Christmas for me, welcoming all those who came to my grandma’s house and the wonderful holiday spirit that lay inside her home!   

I love to see the houses in my community during the holiday season and all the beautifully decorated porches and entryways.  There are lovely homes adorned with crafty, hand-made ornaments…

Snoopy Christmas. www.mytributejournal.com

…while others try hard to recreate Chevy Chase’s, Griswold Christmas lighting extravaganza.  In their own unique way, every home seems to beckon those who would visit with a lovely welcome that says, “Come in out of the cold and warm your hands and hearts at our hearth.”

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Pretty Porches And Other Holiday Curb Appeal!

HGTV magazine has a “Front Door of the Month” series that I love.  Affordable design elements are presented that offer some creative ideas for making your entryway a festive and welcoming part of your home.

HGTV magazine's "Front Door of the Month" series. www.mytibutejournal.com

(via HGTV Magazine)

Here are some pretty porches and other holiday curb appeal ideas I have come across lately…

Pine bough christmas wreath www.mytributejournal.com

I’m a succor for a fresh pine-bough wreath, and the one my neighbor has on her front door is beautiful!

Burlap wreath www.mytributejournal.com

How darling is my friend Hayley’s country glam wreath.  (Click here to see how you can make an assortment of fabric flowers.)

Christmas sled www.mytributejournal.com

Hayley also bedazzled an old thrift store sleigh to give her porch a perfect touch of holiday curb appeal.  I had some wild winter adventures on icy hills using a sled much like this one when I was growing up.  The thought of that probably grips many of you young mothers out there with deep fear in the pit of your stomachs, but back in the day, that’s just how we rolled.  (Click here to read about some of Hayley’s fall decor ideas that she shared on a recent post.)

Outdoor lantern www.mytributejournal.com

A lantern is a perfect addition to your porch any time of the year, but it’s especially fun to spiff it up with a few added accessories at Christmas time! 

Framed chalk board www.mytributejournal.com

Chalk board art is so trendy now and is used in a variety of clever ways, but I think this ornately framed version that I saw recently helps provide the perfect hoilday greeting.  (It seems like this would be fairly easy to make too.)

Happy Christmas greetings! www.mytributejournal.com

Some of the best holiday décor on your porch are the people who greet you!  I love everything about my daughter, Malia’s, holiday curb appeal–especially how her girls race to open the door as they welcome you with their happy, unbridled enthusiasm!

Pier One Imports snowman www.mytributejournal.com

It may be too cold where you live to have flowers growing in your porch planter pots, but they can still be festive for the holidays.  I put this little snowman from Pier One Imports in one of mine.    My husband told our granddaughters that Olaf’s (of “Frozen” fame) long-lost cousin Ralph had come to visit at our house!

Holiday Curb Appeal! www.mytributejournal.com

Here are a few other creative holiday curb appeal ideas that I’ve come across lately.  These are so simple, and yet they offer such a happy, welcoming greeting to your holiday entryway!

It’s fun to go explore your hometown during the holiday season too–not only to discover all the neat activities that are going on, but to see the amazing holiday lights and decorations, as well.

Christmas Street! www.mytributejournal.com

Who wouldn’t want their neighborhood to be known as Christmas Street during the holidays.  My husband and I love to drive around and look at all the pretty Christmas lights around town.

Vintag Santa www.mytributejournal.com

“Dear Vintage Santa,  I hope you have a few things in your bag for a ‘vintage’ girl!”

Some of our favorite eating establishments have eclectic holiday décor to greet us too!   This sweet Santa met my husband and I when we entered our favorite sandwich joint, “The Italian Place” in Logan, last weekend for our favorite Roast Beef Sub!  (Click here for recipe.) 

City Creek Mall at Christmas! www.mytributejournal.com

The lights at our local City Creek Mall turn the shopping center into a magical wonderland at this time of year.  Makes going shopping all that more fun!

Christmas at Temple Square! www.mytributejournal.com

(via Deseret News) 

Getting bundled up and going to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City is a well-love holiday tradition for many families where I live–the light displays are amazing!  

Nativity scene at Temple Square in Salt lake City, Utah. www.mytributejournal.com

It’s always good to have reminders for the main reason we celebrate this most wonderful time of year! 

As you greet family and friends at your doorways during this special holiday season, I hope you find yourselves enjoying so much happiness and many warm embraces!

What are some of your favorite Christmas decorations and/or traditions? 

–Mary

 

Creating Your Home Sweet Home! Seasonal And Holiday Decor!

Creating Your Home Sweet Home!  Seasonal And Holiday Décor!

Seasonal and Holiday Decor!

I think you’ll agree that some of our fondest memories focus around activities and events that take place in our homes during the various holiday seasons!  So often, a big part of those memories is associated with the unique decorations we use to set a festive mood during these special times!

Home Sweet Home quote www.mytributejournal.com

With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, it’s fun to pull out of storage all those treasured pieces we love to decorate our homes with for each holiday season, as well as buy or make a few new ones.

A few years, ago my husband and I went on a holiday house tour sponsored by a local design and art store.  Seasonal décor literally abounded in each room of the beautifully decorated homes we visited.  It was so much fun to hear the stories behind some of the holiday pieces that had been collected over the years and held sentimental value for the homeowners.  With this in mind, for this special edition of “Creating Your Home Sweet Home”, I have asked my good friend and fellow nurse, Hayley, to share some of her thoughts on interior design, (she just moved into her cute house) as well as some of the fun things she’s done to get her home ready for Halloween–including a couple of great DIY projects.

From Hayley:

When I’m not comparing my home to another, or decorating to win approval of others, I love to decorate!  My philosophy: Decorate for ME, and surround myself with things that I love!  My décorating favorites are things that are nostalgic, inspirational, or homemade.

Here’s a few for this season:

Paper Book Pumpkin–

DIY Book pumpkin www.mytributejournal.com

Simple and Thrifty…but takes some patience!  This project requires a thick book, one of about 350 pages or more.  I found mine at Deseret Industries (our local thrift store) for only 50 cents..  Here’s a link for a tutorial that I found online.  I inked mine with an orange stamp pad, but that’s optional.  (I love the touch of orange color Hayley added!)

Crows–not homemade…but a great find–

Inexpensive Halloween Decorations www.mytributejournal.com

I found these crows at the Dollar Store.  I have a few perched here and there.  My kids love them! 

Burlap and Ribbon Wreath–

Burlap and Ribbon Wreath www.mytributejournal.com

Here’s the link to a tutorial on the basics of this wreath.  The choice of burlap and ribbon is up to you.  (The mix of black burlap and ribbon is so perfect–and seriously, that herring bone ribbon…!!) 

Spring Wreath…Spookified–

Revamped Halloween Wreath www.mytributejournal.com

I had a spring wreath that I fell out-of-love with.  Rather than just get rid of it, I transformed it.  I lightly coated it with black spray paint.  I wanted some green to still show through a little.  I added the ribbon and pumpkins after.  (Is this not a great idea!  It is obviously a unique and inexpensive wreath that makes all who visit want to go inside and share more of Hayley’s holiday spirit!)   

Thanks, Hayley!  I am truly inspired by your holiday sense of style without feeling too overwhelmed to try tackling one of these projects!

My daughter, who lives in New York City, sent me these pictures of other simple, seasonal décor ideas.  Since Mandi’s space is somewhat limited for storing a lot of decorations, she will often just display fruit and other things from nature that she finds outside or at a Farmer’s Market to give her cute apartment a fun, holiday feel!

Simple Fall Decorations www.mytributejournalc.om

Fresh picked apples! www.mytributejournal.com

The great thing about these apples is Mandi and her husband picked them at an orchard just outside the city! 

When you enter my other daughter, Malia’s home, some of the first things you will see as you peer inside are the neat decorations she puts up on her fire place mantle; they set the tone for each holiday season and draw you in to see more!

Halloween decorations www.mytributejournal.com

Most importantly, I hope that the upcoming holidays are filled with happiness and special times spent with those you love!

I’d love for anyone else to share some of your holiday traditions and decor in an upcoming “Creating Your Home Sweet Home” feature, just click on the “Contact Me” header on my home page and send me an e-mail.  It’s always fun to catch a glimpse into how others live and celebrate the holidays!

–Mary