NEW FLOOR!

BEFORE

Tyson and I recently ripped out our ugly carpet in our hallway and front room and he installed some really nice laminate flooring.  I'm putting up before and after pictures.  The pictures don't show how ugly and dirty our carpet was.  You can kind of see where the dirty marks are that people put their feet while sitting on the couch.  We cleaned it several times and it wouldn't come out.  So, to hide the ugliness we bought a really ugly cheap berber rug to hide the carpet.  When we took the rug up when we were going to rip out the carpet there was a clean rectangle under where the rug was.  I work at a flooring showroom and I can get everything at cost so we decided on some laminate.  Here are the pictures, there are a lot of pictures but everyone loves pictures right?

Yes, I know I'm vacuuming right before the carpet is getting ripped out, go ahead and make fun Tyson already did.  

Carpet is gone and they left us with some '70s linoleum in the hallway and in the front doorway.

AFTER

These are the after pictures for just the floor.  We also got baseboards, they really help define the space.  Looks much better than before with the carpet cove.

Tyson installed the floor himself, doesn't it look amazing?

FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES
This is the best part, this is where it all comes together.  These first pictures are some of the newer accessories we've chosen.

I love this lamp because it lets out a lot of light and it has texture.
Plus the color matches a few of the picture frames on the walls.

This is basically the same picture but it shows a little more of the side table.   We found these at the DI and added the top with tile and the slats on the bottom to hold some books or other accessories.  This adds some color to the room and also brings some interest with the tiling on the top.

This is the arc lamp I got for my birthday, you may recognize it from IKEA.  It is the only arc lamp they have except we have changed out the lampshade.

These are some pillows I made, they are super easy and I love the fabric I found.  And the bold colors look great against the dark sofa.

This is the new rug we picked out, I did really want something darker but I knew if  I got a lighter rug it would help lighten the room because of the dark floors and dark sofas.

TOP TEN WINDOW TREATMENT TRENDS

It can be a hard decision when trying to decide what kind of window treatments to put in your home.  You may want to do something that is minimalist or something that is more elegant.  Whatever you are going for, I have ten window treatment trends that can give you some ideas of what you would like.

Let the Light In

One trend that's always in style is using window treatments that allow a lot of natural light into the space. Designer Jennifer Duneier suggests to "use simple panels of sheer fabrics to add warmth to the room but still let light through. Many fabric houses are making fabulous sheers in all colors, not just white or cream. They're also using great linen blends with more contemporary patterns. Great sources include Highland Court, Beacon Hill/Robert Allen, Kravet and Lee Jofa." Design by Andreea Avram Rusu

Natural Elements

Organic materials are bringing nature indoors. "It’s all about nature-inspired and eco-friendly materials and designs," says designer Lori Gilder. "It’s no longer a trend, but more of a philosophy in the evolution of design. Bamboo, matchstick blinds and natural woven shades layered with simple sheer linen panels create an elegant yet earthy sophistication in any space."

Trim It Up

Personalize window treatments with decorative embellishments. Designer Jennifer Duneier uses trim to create custom-designed treatments with store-bought pieces. "Samuel & Sons has a fabulous trim with Murano glass beads hanging from the tape that is unusual. Tapes with shells or buttons attached to them are becoming more popular as well."

Metallics

"Metallic surfaces are back in vogue," says Lori Gilder. "Silver, bronze and gold metallic fabrics layered with sheers are making a grand appearance in living rooms and bedrooms. The simple layering of these metallics draped from a classic metal rod blends beautifully with the latest color trends." Image Courtesy of Wildcat Territory.

Layer Shades

"Another trend is to layer shades," says Jennifer Duneier. "A blackout shade might be installed right next to the window with a sheer shade in front of it. The Shade Store is a great resource for this, and they have a great line by Chilewich and also one by Robert Allen/Beacon Hill fabrics." Image Courtesy of Smith + Noble.

Stainless Steel

Not just a favorite for appliances anymore, stainless steel is making its way throughout the home. To incorporate this trend into your window treatments, designer Lori Gilder suggests threading stainless steel and other metallic curtain rods through simple eyelets at the top of panels to create a simple unadorned look. Design by Erinn Valencich.

Jewel Tones

Window treatments in jewel tones, which range from deep reds to subtle blues, are sophisticated and create the atmosphere of luxury in any space. Designer Jennifer Duneier says, "Jewel tones, like amethyst and turquoise, are popular mixed with soft metallics such as platinum or brushed nickel." Image Courtesy of Casa Fiora.

Geometric Patterns

Instead of sticking with solid fabrics, look for ones in creative patterns. "In more contemporary and transitional interiors the use of large-scaled, geometric-patterned draperies creates a dramatic focal point within the space," says designer Lori Gilder.

New Neutrals

Designer Lori Gilder says "charcoal and slate are the new neutrals and blend beautifully with the metallic trends." This darker neutral frames a window elegantly and adds a more sophisticated look to your room. Design by Genevieve Gorder.

Cheery Yellow

Brighten up a room with cheerful draperies. According to designer Lori Gilder, "Yellow epitomizes warmth and a sunny outlook toward the future."

You may not like all of these ideas, but hopefully a few of them.  Remember if you have a lot of pattern going on in the room, you may want to choose a solid color for the window treatment.  If you have a lot of solids in the room, try out a pattern on the window treatments to mix solids and patterns. 

INTERESTING LIGHT FIXURES

I get an email about new trends about every week and this week I found some interesting light fixtures, so I thought I'd share.  It's always interesting to see new design ideas. 

I think these light fixtures are very cool.  You can find more info here.

Here are a few more that I liked, check out the link here.

MY STYLE: TRANSITIONAL

I have just recently found what style suits me best.  All through school it went from contemporary to modern and then back to contemporary.  While I was on my internship I found that I like "modern rustic" much better than what I thought.  Now that I'm out of school and buying things for my own home I've found that my style is transitional.  Not many people have probably heard of this style, I know I hadn't until about sophomore year at school.  Actually my junior year we had some designers come and judge our portfolios and give us some advice on how to make them better.  Almost every single one of those judges said my designs and renderings looked transitional.  So, you ask, what does transitional mean?  The transitional look bridges contemporary and traditional design. Offering a deep rooted sense of history in some pieces, while furniture often gets an update with cleaner lines. Leather ottomans used as coffee tables is very popular in this decor.  I love the look of clean lines of the contemporary style but also love the warmness and coziness that the traditional style brings.  I have posted a few pictures that I love that are transitional.  Enjoy!