Line 'em up! A great idea for container gardening ...

I don't know about you but when I design my container garden I usually think in pairs. Two planters together with a bunch of colorful flowers or boxwoods.

Entrance at our beach house rental

This year I'm going to create a more elegant feel and use multiples of the same container with the same plant in each. Say what? Check out the below images.

It's almost like creating a living wall or border on a patio or a deck.  This look would also be pretty amazing lined up around a pool or on a porch too. I'll be honest I'm so drawn to this look ... I just love it!

Pinterest

here

here



here

via Proven Winners

The best thing? You don't need fancy or expensive planters.  In fact, I really like containers with clean simple lines for this look because the impact is all in the numbers.

Here's two I have contemplated:

target

home depot


Thoughts? Do you like this look?? Too simple for you??

In other news...
In my weekend bag -

jcrew

 

 jcrew

 jcrew



jcrew

 

jcrew

Did you notice a pattern? Why all jcrew? 30 percent off today of course!!

Oh ...and I found out the secret to making the best homemade lemonade on one of my favorite blogs Design Mom! You should check it out here!

Have a GREAT weekend and thanks for reading!!

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


 

Eight Secrets to Styling your Bookshelves!

source

 

 

1) When styling your bookcase be sure to include elements that are meaningful to you. On a more practical note, make sure you measure the shelves to be sure what you want to include will actually fit the space.

 

In the below version (which the owner kept in place) the teapot and cups were a gift from someone special. The silver plate and crystal glasses were her mothers. And a few of the very old books were her dad's.

2) Should you paint or paper the back of your shelves?

The answer is yes when you want to add color to a room or to pop the items placed on your shelves. When I came for the consultation, I noticed a lot of the items my client wanted to include were white so I advised her to paint the shelves a  soft gray. 

Here are more examples here...



here



decorpad.com

here

3) Place the larger and/or most important items on the shelves first.

You can see my work midway through below. I placed some bigger items in the center and some off-center and just played around with them as I went.

4) Place like colors and groupings together.

I layered the clients glasses together and also similar color books together.

6) Need extra storage? Use baskets. This client didn't need extra storage. She placed most of her books behind closed doors. But if she wanted to add baskets I would add them to the  four bottom shelves.


These are some of my faves...

wisteria

something more rustic?


wisteria

Or more of a sophisticated office look?

restoration hardware

7) After you place your large items on the shelves start filling in with books. Make sure you stack them both vertically and horizontally. Don't like the color of the binding? Just turn the books around so the pages are facing out.

8) Edit, Edit, Edit. Make sure there is room for your eye to rest and that there is some space to breathe on the shelf so you can really notice the important book titles, items and other goodies!

Here are my three looks again in case you missed them....

here

here

 

 



And the winner winner chicken dinner ...

Thanks for reading and have fun styling!

Do you have any secrets to styling that you'd like to share? Please do!!!

Like this post? Share it on facebook and with your friends!!

sorry  I think an email when out earlier that wasn't meant too! oops!!!

Father's Day is on my mind....

In honor of father's day these rooms come to mind

 

 

 

All images via pinterest

 

Masculine with just a touch of feminine detail. Love them all!

 

 

I'm also thinking...

About a small project for my daughter to make for her dad -- an adorable card for father's day.

 

You can learn how to make it here at Martha Stewart Living Magazine.

Need a gift for dad? How about...

jcrew swim

US Open Paraphernalia (especially for all of us local peeps)

jcrew T

Customized Nike Sneakers-- I'd like to design a pair myself!


How about a DIY? Perfect for young kids...

Buy a small pack of canvases from Michael's and acrylic paint in a cool color along with a coordinating sharpie.  Have your kids write their name, year and stamp their hand or footprint on the canvas --- perfect for dad or grandpop's home office!

Not digging any of these?

Check out this month's Real Simple magazine for more ideas!

Needed to take a break from the bookcase situation will be back next week with my secrets to styling!!

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading!