Style Sparks

Who has bookcase styling on the brain?  This girl!  Sadly I'm still working on the painting of my new bookcase, so I'll have to wait a few more days.  Until the paint is dry and ready for styling, there's no harm in drooling over other well-styled surfaces from around the web. *sidenote* If you LOVE these as much as I do and want to pin them, please please click through to the source and pin from there.  Thanks!!

I can't talk about well-styled shelves without using an example from Emily Henderson.  That girl is seriously on another level.  The variety of blue tones mixed with simple neutrals keeps this eclectic collection from feeling busy.

Better Homes and Gardens is never short on styling inspiration.  It's one of the few home magazines that I actually do read- their featured spaces are always so well done, but still look livable.  I love this collection of white ceramics and colorful antique books.

Hello color!  Maybe a bit bright for my space, but the color blocking on these shelves really speaks to me.

Where this image came from is a mystery- I have pinned it twice from 2 different tumblr accounts, so I'd love to give credit where it's due!  Firstly, I love anything in this color.  Add fun antique pieces and I'm weak in the knees.

In reality, my shelves will probably end up looking closer to this well-styled bookcase from Coco+Kelley.  It's eclectic, colorful, and really speaks about who lives there.

Which shelf style speaks to you most?

Inspired By

Between shoveling, moving buckets of concrete into a bagster, and rolling Drylok (paint as thick as frosting) on the basement walls, my arms are sure to look like Popeye's soon.  I'm not sure it's a look I'll be able to pull off, but it sure beats paying extra for a gym membership!  Even though I'm been physically hard at work getting this flip ready to list this weekend, my brain has been collecting inspiration and planning ideas for the next flip and for our own house! Here are some of my favorite inspirations from around the web that I've pinned recently.

This sweet table styled for valentines day by Carrie over at Dream Green DIY hits the right balance.  It's sweet and girly with a bit of vintage flare to keep it grounded.  I see those salt and pepper shakers everywhere... this table's making me think about picking them up next time they cross my path.

Every time I look at Dina from Honey and Fitz's bedroom I fall in love all over again with the reading lights.

If you've read my blog for more than a week, you may have figured out that I've been fixated on gold lately.  It's no wonder that I'm enamored by this bathroom from Cuckoo 4 Design.  Gold... dots AND stripes... and still neutral enough to accessorize.... why, yes please!

Since I REALLY need to get going on my basement work space if I plan to accomplish it for my 30 before 30 list, creative work spaces have been catching my eye.  This one from Be True Image Design is such a cute, family friendly space.

Last but certainly not least- you rarely see high chairs make an appearance in professionally styled and photographed dining rooms, but with a high chair like this, why not??  I don't think I can find a single thing with Jessica and Scott's eating nook (featured on Apartment Therapy) that I would change.  The mix of patterns and the light really bewitch me.

What's been inspiring you lately?

Happy Hooks

For longer than I care to admit, my sister had been not-so-subtly hinting to Crafty Auntie Karen, that Cutest-Nephew-Ever Eli needed wall hooks in his room for his towel and bathrobe. (phew, that was a mouthful of a sentence!)  Well, for Christmas, I finally delivered.

This was such a quick project, but I love how it turned out!  Cute enough for a little boy's room, but not so cutesy that it'll get swapped out when his interests change.

I apologize for not taking any progress pics, but I can assure you they'd be very boring since this project is so self-explanatory.

The piece of wood started it all.  I found it in the woodworking section at Michael's and with a coupon, it ended up being right around $5.  2 of the hooks I already had, and the third came from from Hobby Lobby for just a couple bucks (on sale as well).  The hooks, which started as silver, white and black, got sprayed with spraypaint that I already had in my paint collection, and were then screwed to the wood.  I did splurge on new screws so they'd be uniform and shiny.  After it was all said and done, this cute set of hooks cost less than $10!

So to recap the exhausting process:  spraypaint 3 hooks.  attach 3 hooks to piece of wood.  hang on wall.  Ta da!!

This project could easily be fancied up for a girl with different colors or more detailed hooks.  Seriously, the possibilities are endless!

I consider this a monstrous success simply with how happy Eli is with them.  If you ask to see his hooks, he'll happily take your hand, lead you upstairs to his room, then proceed to yank everything he can reach off the hooks.  Just look at that innocent face.

Yeah... maybe innocent isn't the right word.... anyway, he's still adorable, and I'm happy that he loves his new hooks!