Stephanie Kraus Designs: May 2013

Thursday, May 30, 2013

20+ essentials for your next outdoor party!

So your throwing a party!

images above via pinterest

No?

Well, you may think twice after I show you all the fun and fabulous indoor/outdoor stuff available!

Get comfortable, sit back and relax with these
outdoor pillows

Schumacher here

Got a chill?

No sweat, I've got an outdoor throw made with 100% acrylic Sunbrella chenille fabric

Frontgate

Still Cold?

Well grab yourself a bag of marshmallows and settle in here

Restoration Hardware

Buggin' out?

No fear mosquito repellent is here. So, stop slapping yourself silly.

Frontgate

Lanterns and candles so you can light it up!

Restoration Hardware

Take a seat...

These would be fun and stylish for extra seating

Amazon

Pour yourself a glass

Govino wine glasses are shatterproof and reusable. Best of all, they have a place for your thumb if it gets tired.

amazon

Not a wine drinker? How about some Sangria amigo?

Pottery Barn

No? How about an ice cold pop of iced tea?

Frontgate

Don't forget to put your dancing shoes on

Indoor/Outdoor wireless speaker

Amazon

Outdoor chalk table cloth, anyone?

oil chalk tablecloth available here

Or this one perhaps? This would look gorg with a pop of hot pink flowers!

etsy

For an easy breezy atmosphere

Indoor/Outdoor Curtains

Pottery Barn

Outdoor floor lamp? Yep, got that too.

Ballard Designs

One last thought, instead of buying all this stuff just bring all your indoor stuff outside for the night. Just be sure to bring it back in before it rains!!

Now back to biz...

What ever will you wear?

Self-tanner of course

here

And how about these?

Milly for Banana Republic

Lilly Pulizer

Do you have any party secrets you'd like to share? What say you?

P.S. If you missed my outdoor furniture, planter and rug round up check it out here, here and here!

Have a GREAT time at your party! xoxo

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Eight secrets to choosing the perfect wallpaper

Who isn't loving wallpaper these days?

I'm using it in practically every project I'm working on. I'm talking fun, fabulous, wonderful wallpaper people!

Don't know where to begin on picking the perfect wallpaper?
Here's my top eight tips...

#1
First of all put aside any concerns you have about wallpaper removal. Today's wallpapers are much easier to remove than those from the "olden days".

#2
Who's installing your wallpaper? You'll need to know this so you can get an accurate number of rolls you'll need. This will help determine your budget. Wallpaper can be $$$. Why waste time falling in love with a wallpaper that's too pricey?

#3
Know your colorway. You'll need to take into consideration the adjacent rooms so you know what color wallpaper will work with your existing rooms and color scheme.

#4
Get lots of samples! Don't be afraid ... go on get plenty and live with them for a few days. You'll need to look at how the light changes the look of the wallpaper throughout the day. If your papering the dining room you'll especially want to take note of the light at dinner time.

#5
Where are you going to put the wallpaper? Kids room, bathroom, mudroom? You may want to consider a vinyl wallpaper for these rooms for durability.

#6
Do you want pattern, texture, geometric? Peruse home décor magazines and pinterest for inspiration so you can narrow down the look that you want.

#7
Still not sure? Consider vertical stripes to raise the height of your ceiling. Want to add texture? Consider a pretty grasscloth.
House feel a little stodgy or too traditional? How about a funky, modern geometric. Want to infuse lots of pattern and color? Try a floral, vine or bird pattern. Also, larger patterns will make the most impact in a larger room.

#8
Still afraid to commit? How about buying your favorite wallpaper and backing a bookcase? Or frame it and put it on your wall. That's a great way to dabble in wallpaper without a full on commitment.

Here are some of my faves...

For your little girl who has a passion for horsin' around