Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Etsy Eight

Take a look at my round-up of Etsy finds for the week! If you're looking for a hand-crafted special item, Etsy is the place!


























































1. Built to Order Campaign Desk lacquered in your color choice! - The Papaya Tree

2. Vintage Advertisement Mad Men, Chanel No.5 Perfume Poster - Mad Ave Workshop 

3. Custom Pet Portrait - Companions on Canvas

4. Spiced Chile Hot Chocolate Mix with Cardamom and Star Anise - Whimsy and Spice

5. Modern Large Hanging Brass Planter - IN.SEK Design

6. 18" x 18" "Springtime Wonderland" Designer Pillow Cover - Northern House

7. Moisturizing Moroccan Clay Face Mask for dry skin (Perfect for skin affected by the cold winter weather) - Syren Song Creative

8. 2015 Gold Letterpress Desk Calendar with wood stump holder - 1 Canoe 2 

P.S. I'm linking up with other great bloggers this week here.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/InteriorsbyJacquin

Saturday, December 27, 2014

5 Great Ways to Add Color to Your Home

When it comes to spending time at home, you want your home to feel comfortable, bright and upbeat. One of the best ways to brighten your space is by adding color.  Take a look at these 5 Great Ways to Add Color to Your Home!





















































Images via: 1 //  2  //  3  //  4

Creating an accent wall is a fun way to add color to your space.  Try pulling out one of the brighter colors in your décor and use that color for your accent wall.  Even if it’s an especially bright color, using it on only one wall will generally be the perfect touch.  If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can create a more graphic wall accent with wallpaper, as seen above.  Either way, you will have made a great addition to your home. 

















































Lighting in Top Row:          1  //  2  //  3
Lightin in Bottom Row:      1  //  2  //  3

Everyone needs lighting in their home, so selecting your lighting is a great opportunity to bring color into your space.  Whether you're looking for a table lamp, chandelier, or floor lamp, I've got the perfect, colorful light fixture for you! Take a look at my top picks for brightly colored light fixtures!



















































Images via:  1  //  2  //  3  //  4

My primary rule for decorating is to have at least one work of art up in each room.  It's a fun way to add color to a room and also show your personality based on your art taste.  Here are two budget art finds from Z Gallerie and Ikea to get you started on a fabulous gallery wall!  Take care to select artwork you really enjoy, as you'll find that it will instantly be a focal point in your room.  It's easy to see how wall artwork can be an attractive focal point from the lovely room designs above, both featuring stunning wall art.





















































































Images via:  1  //  2  //  3  //  4

Bring the outdoors inside with the natural beauty of plants and flowers!  Just take a look at the impact colorful plants have on these beautiful rooms below! If you love a do-it yourself project, you may just want to try your hand at creating the brightly colored, branch and floral headboard featured here. Simply tie strings of flowers onto a large sized branch and then adhere the branch to the wall above your bed.  A unique and special feature for the nature lover and DIY crafter!  
If you don't have a green thumb try planting cactus in brightly colored flower pots. Cactus is easy to care for, so a great houseplant choice for beginners, and its rich green color is sure to add to your space!  Not feeling like trying your hand at gardening? Don't forget you can simply pick up some richly hued flowers and greenery at the market and place them in vases around your home.  The more the merrier and don't be afraid to mix and match flower colors!






























































For the Color Enthusiast:   1   //  2  //  3 
For the Color Moderate:     1   //  2  //  3 
For the Color Newbie:         1   //  2  //  3

So, are you a color enthusiast, color moderate, or color newbie? 
I hope this has inspired you to add some color to your home!

P.S. I'm linking up with other great bloggers this week here.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/InteriorsbyJacquin

Monday, December 15, 2014

Maximizing Space with Stylish Banquette Seating




Image via Pinterest, La Dolce Vita blog

Banquette seating is a smart way to pack more seating into a small space! Here are some stylish homes featuring banquette seating as the star of the room. These banquette style dining spaces are simply delightful!

Although banquette seating can be quite casual, it isn't just for kids.  The taupe colored leather banquette below paired with the lovely nailhead dining chairs create such a handsome and sophisticated dining nook.  It's all about how you style the space!



I love unique accents in furniture and home decor.  The scalloped banquette skirt below is so charming!  Makes me want to enjoy hot cup of tea while gazing out of these lovely bay windows. 

If you have kids, or happen to be accident prone, remember that you can always select a slip covered banquette seat for your dining area.  That way you can always toss your slipcover in the washer if anything is spilled on it. If possible, have an extra slip cover made at time of purchase so you'll always have a fresh slipcover available if one gets dirty.





Isn't the bright white and blue banquette nook below beaming with cheer? I'd say so!  This is exactly what I want out of my dining area and kitchen. A space that is both upbeat and bright!  The type of kitchen that gets you excited about sitting down to breakfast.  If only this breakfast nook came with a side of nutella crepes...or pancakes! 































Image via Houzz, Designed by Charlie Barnett Associates

Are you wishing you had your very one banquette right about now?  If so, you're in luck!  Check out this cheap and cheerful Ikea hack (below) featured on Krys Melo's blog Melodrama.   This DIY banquette project is definitely worth a try!  Or consider this budget tufted banquette bench from Overstock.com. 


















































DIY Ikea hack banquttte via Melodrama blog

The banquette featured in Traditional Home below is my favorite space of the day!  I love the character of the arched french doors and beautiful wood panel walls.  This space is styled to perfection!  You'll be surprised to learn that the dining seats in this room are actually custom crafted from Restoration Hardware's luxury towels.  Don't be afraid to repurpose special fabrics and materials in new ways around your home!  These are the kind of projects that receive the most rave reviews, especially since your custom look can't be purchased anywhere.  


Image via Traditional Home, Designer Marshall Watson, Werner Straube Photography

Do you have a banquette at home currently?  How do you like it?


Monday, December 8, 2014

Crab Wonton Recipe - Yum!

I've recently prepared crab wontons at home and they were a huge hit! Such a huge hit that I've made them about four times in just the last 10 days!  I have a feeling you'll be hooked on crab wontons too once you try this simple recipe! 




































Recipe

1. Let 2 packs of cream cheese reach room temperature. 
2. Shred two 8 oz packs of imitation crab (or real crab).  You can shred the crab meat by hand. I make enough to fry another round of wontons the same week.  Feel free to cut this recipe in half.  I make two batches of about 30 wontons each with this recipe. 
2. Chop 1/3 cup of green onions. Add green onions to bowl with crab.
3. Cut softened cream cheese into cubes and add to your bowl.  
4. Add 1 tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp. of soy sauce, and 1 tsp. of garlic into the bowl. Combine all ingredients by hand.  It's messy, but the best way! Salt to taste.  The soy sauce may provide enough salt depending on your taste.
5. Heat oil for frying wontons on medium heat (around 4-5 heat).
6.  Prepare wontons by wetting the edges of the wonton wrapper and add one spoon of the crab mixture to the center of the wonton.  Fold into a triangle and close the edges together.  I keep a small cup with water nearby for preparing the wonton wrappers.  Filling and folding the wontons is a great activity to ask your friends and family to help you with!
7.  Sit prepared wontons in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes before frying for best results (but not a requirement).
8.  Lastly, fry your wontons for about 3 minutes or until they are brown and crispy.  Sit hot wontons on a plate with paper towels to drain oil.  
9.  Serve with sweet and sour sauce.  Enjoy!



Wonton Remix Time!

SAVORY:
Crab Avocado Wontons - Creme de la Crumb

SWEET:
Pineapple Cream Cheese Wontons - Four Hats & Frugal

Please let me know if you make your own crab wontons at home! I'd love to hear how they turned out!


P.S. I'm linking up with other great bloggers this week here.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Recreating a relaxing bedroom retreat - Room Re-do Time!

This tranquil cream and orange bedroom was a delight to come across. The rustic elements mixed with the luxurious tufted sleigh bed & pops of orange, make for a well-styled space to rest in.  I've searched high and low to recreate this look just for you all! Take a look at my fab room re-do!


Image via House Beautiful, Designed by Lee Ann Thorton, Thomas Loof Photography


















































1. Sorona 18" Orange Jute Pillows (Set of 2) $94 - HomeDecorators.com  (On Sale!)

2. Greenbriar Hardwood 35" Round Wall Mirror $285 - LampsPlus.com


3. Square Wood Frame and Sheer Shade Chandelier $295 - ShadesofLight.com


4. Burton Tufted Linen Sleigh Bed, Taupe (Brownstone Upholstery) $3699 - OneKingsLane.com


5. Mystere Mango Fabric Tufted Bench $369.91 - LampsPlus.com


6. Faux Fur Throw $146.25 - Horchow.com (On Sale!)


7. Devine Designs Casablanca Cotton Pillow $94.99 - Wayfair.com


8. Wilmington Waterfall Roman Shades (Buff) (Price Size Dependent) - JCPenney


9. Kirkham 1-Light Champagne Ribbed Ceramic Table Lamp $125 - Overstock.com (On Sale!)


Splurge Chandelier: Starburst Light Ray Hanging Lantern (Large) $1500 - ShadesofLight.com


Budget Bed: Marietta Upholstered Button-Tufted Sleigh Bed, Queen $699.99, King $749.99 - Groupon.com


My top 3 items from this stylish room re-do are #3, the square wood chandelier, because it's just so unique and captures the essence of the room I'm recreating.  I also love #5, the mango tufted bench because it's such a vibrant piece.  I know it would be the highlight of the room! Lastly, I'd select the textured, round mirror in # 2 because of its detailed, rustic texture. Texture adds depth to a space, which enhances your room's visual interest, and visual interest is a critical element for your well-styled living. With these 3 items your well on your way to recreating the fantastic bedroom design! 



Tell me what you think. Which decor item is your favorite from this orange room re-do?


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

I've got the perfect rug for you!

When it comes to refreshing the look of a room without spending much, rugs can go a long way! Today we're exploring some of the most unique rugs around!  These show-stopping rugs are sure to get you many oohs and ahs from your visitors.   

Let's begin with rugs from around the world.  You may know by now that I am an avid traveler and lover of all things related to culture, design, and art. Malene B. Carpets offers custom rugs inspired by people and places from the global community.  She travels, takes photos, and designs beautiful, high quality carpets that tell the story of the places they are inspired by.  How awesome!


Global Rugs

Bangkok Rug (Iris Color) - Malene B. Carpets
Wolof Rug (Wild Rose Color) - Malene B. Carpets
Flutter Pattern Rug - Anthropologie

Above, I've featured two stunning Malene B. rugs. One represents the people of Bangkok and the other the Wolof people.  I'm so inspired by this approach to art! What do you think?



Bold Rugs


ABC Carpet & Home - Color Reform Spectrum Overdyed Rug - Pakistan
Madeline Weinrib - Tessa Cotton Carpet (Gold) - India

If you're currently searching for the perfect feature rug for your home, but on a budget, I've got some great finds for you!  Take a look at these four amazing budget buys!  You don't have to spend a ton to have a well-decorated home.  One stylish rug will change the entire look of your space, so why not go pick one out for yourself!

Budget Rugs

Hand Tufted Paisley Abstract Wool Rug (5' x 8') - Overstock.com

Are you shopping for a new rug? 
What are you looking for in a rug?