Things I'm all about this week.

Have you read this article yet ... The Sweet Spot?

You can read it here.  It's so well-written and if you have kids you'll either remember the sweet spot, will be there soon or if your lucky enough you're in the sweet spot right now:)

This house featured on Coco & Kelley .. it just screams summer time to to me! All bright with butterflies, vines and flowers...

featured in Living, etc.
Wallpaper Schumacher

I'm also all about summer sales. Here are some deals I found...

 (and psssssst.... everything is under $100!)

This art 

On sale for $75 by Jenny Vorwaller. You can find it at Joy & Revelry.

Monogrammed glass hurricanes are 20% off at Pottery Barn.

These chairs and these chairs at Restoration Hardware are $29-$39. At that price?  No need to buy folding chairs anymore--how great would these be for large dinner parties or hosting thanksgiving dinner, right?

This black metal planter from Restoration Hardware is $83.

This lucite tray is 50% off at C Wonder.

Need an Ikat pillow? This one from C Wonder-- 50% off. This sale is insane. You must check it out!

These mercury glass vases are less than $20 at West Elm.

Bold black and white abstract paintings at West Elm are $69. And this would be a great way to display them ....

lonny magazine

 

This outdoor rug from Company C is 20% off. I'm going to use it on my lower level patio attached to the walk-out basement. It's a total snooze fest out there and this will certainly brighten things up.

If you don't know about Company C you should! These folks know color... it's their passion in life.  Here's some of their other goodies...


Company C pillows

Company C chair

Company C chair



Company C bedding

 

And last but certainly not least,  you won't want to miss the new August/September online issue of Adore magazine from our mates down under.

You can read it here! 

Need help decorating you space? I can help with anything from a total remodel to freshening up with pillows and accessories. Don't live near me? That's ok I offer e-design services too! for more info contact me at kraussteph@yahoo.com

Enjoy your summer shopping and thanks for reading!! xoxo

Need the perfect seating arrangement? I've got the solution for you ...

Versatile and FUNctional Floor plan

 I have an awesome new client with young kids.  She's so excited to freshen up her family room which is large and bright but long and narrow.

We're  going to make this space more functional for her kids so my number one priority is to make a comfortable cozy spot for the kids to watch TV and also provide additional seating for entertaining and adult conversation.

 

Since the room is so large I'm going to design two seating areas ... one for the kids to watch TV and one for the adults to hang out and chat and have a cocktail or two or six:)

 

All the while keeping in mind this could be a room that evolves and changes as her kids get older so I'm going to provide her with a very versatile floor plan.

My answer?  Four chairs and an ottoman. It's fun, fresh and modern and if she gets bored with the look someday she can move the chairs around the house!
check it below.

Traditional Exterior by Columbus General Contractors Michael Matrka, Inc

 

 

 

 

sarah richardson

 

otherwise noted all images via pinterest

 

Here's the  floor plan

You can see the room is long and rectangular but plenty big for two seating areas. 

 

When you walk into the room you will be greeted by the four funky fun chairs and a table that will immediately make you want to sit down, relax and stay awhile.

 

But if you want to catch up on the latest sponge-bob square pants episode the four chairs will not obstruct your race to the sofa. Perfect, right?

Here's a few chairs that may work in your home...

oomph

layla grace



z gallerie

layla grace

restoration hardware
 

west elm

serena & lily

overstock

target

amazon

Do you have furniture placement issues in your home? Why not try four chairs and an ottoman?

Don't forget to subscribe to this newsletter at the top of this page and like my page on facebook!!

thanks for reading!! xoxo

And don't forget I'm

Linking with Southern Savvy Style here!
Participating in  Amaze me Monday at Dwellings

For the love of floor lamps

 (and another mini before and after)

 

pinterest

 

pinterest

 

pinterest

pinterest

 

pinterest

 

pinterest

 

 

west elm

 

Yep, another mini before and after.

 

Please someone tell me to
 

PUT THE SPRAY PAINT CAN DOWN NOW!!
Step away slowly.
Before someone gets hurt.

amazon

 

I'm becoming an addict. But c'mon tell me this lamp doesn't look better than it did before????

 

For some reason I totally forgot to take a real before picture of this floor lamp which I am sooo guilty of doing on several projects (I'm getting better). So I found this picture of the lamp from like 5 years ago. I purchased it from a store called Scallywags that went out of business like 8 years ago and I paid a pretty penny. Trust me on this.

 

Here's what the floor lamp looked like before...

 

 

Now here's the after:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind of amazing, right? Doesn't even look like the same lamp, right?

 

I'm also going to divulge two (2) other trade secrets demonstrated in the above photo.

 

1. A touch of black in every room is a must. A black lampshade with gold lining makes a simple floor lamp look elegant and rich-looking.

 

2. Also, if you have light colored furniture like my blue and white wide-striped slipper chairs from Lee Industries... place a textured throw on them to keep sticky, grimy hands away from them! ha - so there you have it.

 

My plan is to purchase this lamp here to replace the other one...

 

Arteriors floor lamp in gold leaf

Love it, right?----

 

But until I do ---this works don't ya think?

 

 

 Do you likey? yes, no? or

should I just bite the bullet and get the Arteriors lamp for that spot now?

 

P.S. If you want to pin one of my images just hover over it -- I just added a pin button

-- Please like my page on facebook and tell your friends about this blog and if your feelin' it subscribe to this newsletter via email!

 

 

ALSO LINKING UP WITH....

 

AND I'm sharing this post with Kim from Savvy Southern Style!!

 

PLEASE Go check out her blog. Kim has been so supportive of me being a new blogger and all!!

 

 I'm also linking up to

 

Awesome blog you can check it out here! Thanks Marty!!

 

AND 

 

Of course here at Funky Junk Interiors

 

 

One last most awesome blog .... The Shabby Nest!

 

 

Thanks for reading xoxo!

 

 

 

 

 

Summer rooms and three simple design solutions!

House of Turquoise

source

ssource

 

pinterest

apartment therapy
 

"I  think of  summers of the past, adjust the base and let the alpine blast. Pop in my cd and let me run a rhyme. And put your car on cruise and lay back cause this is summertime" --DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

 

Are you feelin' the summer vibe here?

How can you make your home feel more "summery"?

Try adding more bright white, crisp navy and soft colors throughout your home.

Here's a few summer must-haves:

Furbish Art

Joy & Revelry

Peeps you have to join Joy and Revelry flash sale website!!
These designers/bloggers know their stuff and sell the best items for your home:).



Serena & Lily throw

High Street Market

West Elm

Serena & Lily

Lulu & Georgia pouf
 

Anthropologie book

Lulu & Georgia rug


 

Lulu & Georgia rug



Potterybarn

Okay today I'm spilling the beans...

Guess what three items I will not and can not live without?

3M Command Strips

amazon

Are you still hanging art with a hammer and nails?

That's just crazy talk. You need to try command strips they securely hold large pictures, lightweight mirrors, art canvases and pretty much anything you need to hang on the wall.

I LOVE them. Let me say that again. I LOVE them.

No stress or pressure about hanging something and damaging a wall or changing my mind a week later ... just pull off the velcro strips no problem. But please read the directions and I wouldn't hang anything crazy heavy with  them either. You can read more about them here.

Crazy Awesome Rug Pad

overstock
 

In my opinion,  this is the perfect rug pad. Not too thick not too thin, holds onto that rug like it's his job. Perfect and reasonably priced.

And for the Outdoor Room?
Six plants that repel mosquitoes

Oh yeah ....  it's summer.  I don't know about you but mosquitoes love me. I can't go outside without coming back in with at least ten new bites. The solution? Plant flowers that mosquitoes hate!

So I'll be planting these babies this summer on my deck and I'll let you know if it works:)

Lavender
Lemon Balm
Marigolds
Basil
Catnip
Citronella Grass
You can read the article here. I found it on my local gardening supply website Keystone Gardens.

How do you get your house summer-ready? I'd love to know!

Want to make your house feel more summer-like? contact me at kraussteph@yahoo.com