Wall Stripes: Subtle or Circus? »

It is becoming popular to paint stripes on walls, and rightfully so. The technique has the same feel as wallpaper, but in my opinion, looks better and is easier to replace. While noticing this trend, I have also noticed the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My theory on wall stripes is: less contrast is better. It is easy for your striped wall to morph into a circus-tent-feel if you aren’t cautious with the colors. For example: painting a baby boy’s room - it might sound cute to paint the walls blue and brown. Naturally, blue and brown look good together, but on the walls it will be too intense. Instead opt for dark blue stripes and light blue stripes, a less-contrast option,  to avoid that circus look.

My favorite stripe effect? Sheen on sheen. Once, I had my bedroom painted a celery green, and the stripes were flat celery, and shiny celery. It was subtle, charming, and non-invasive. This can be achieved by painting the first wall color in a flat sheen, and masking off and painting the stripes with glaze or with the same color in a satin sheen.

Here’s what I mean by ‘the good’:

Here’s what I mean by the bad {and ugly}:

Of course, everyone has their own tastes and opinions, and this is just mine. This is a rule I like to stick to, and it hasn’t failed me yet!

image credits {in order of appearance):

kris omalley
shannon nicole design
igloodgn.blogspot.com
garay artisans
bookhuntersholiday.wordpress.com
mobcreative.ca
brenna-girl.blogspot.com
www.mackpainting.com

Inspired By Design*Sponge »

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE refinishing furniture. I am one who would rather buy an old piece, paint and recover it, than buy something new that everyone else has. ‘Everybody’ doesn’t really have it, but NOBODY will have the piece that I transformed to fit my home.

I was re-energized and inspired by Design*Sponge’s recent Before & After Posts from projects their readers had sent in. These were my favorites:

Brian’s Dresser Turned Changing Table:

Jaclyn’s Lamp:

Kelly’s Yard Sale Chairs:

What caught my eye in all three of these projects is that these pieces of furniture were being seen for their form and shape, and were forgiven of their bad colors, and warped finishes. After reading these posts, I IMMEDIATELY jumped on craigslist in hopes to find some projects of my own.

Design*Sponge is a good resource for design in general, but I find myself most interested in their excellent display of Before & After projects from their readers.

images from www.designspongeonline.com

Dominoe Magazine Discontinues »

After checking Making it Lovely this morning, I was surprised with the news that Domino Magazine is shutting it’s doors due to the economy. This is the *one* magazine that I subscribe to, and I love the products and ideas. I’ll be doing some ‘best-of’ domino later this week to pay homage.

You can read the details on the Huffington Post.

image from www.dominomag.com

Target’s Look For Less »

While at Target with my friend this weekend, I noticed many look-a-like pieces in their furniture section. Where I was annoyed by one in particular {because I own the original} I started seeing it for it’s value. We all want the ‘original’ in our home, but may not have it in the budget. Here were the pieces that I found in Target that looked familiar… and for LESS…

Here are the links:

Upholstered, no-arm chair {target} {pottery barn}

Armed wingback chair {target} {west elm}

Shelved side table {target} {wisteria}

Branch side table {target} {west elm}

Nightstand {target} {pottery barn}

I also heart Target for their pillows:

In order of appearance {from left to right}:

{1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} {7} {8} {9}

ohbrooke’s entry to Style Me Pretty »

Ok, we’re all a little addicted to blog contests, are we not? I’m no different. I’m a work-a-holic, and anything to keep my ever-growing rump placed firmly in my computer chair peaks my interest.

Style Me Pretty is a wedding blog that features really great ideas for DIY wedding projects and beautiful imagery. They recently had a call for entries for an inspiration board for a pretty pink wedding. I entered, and was chosen amongst some of the top entries. You can see the post here.

Cross your fingers… this one has a $500 CASH prize! I could laugh all the way to the Design Center…

ohbrooke Sells Prints! »

I often make prints for my home because I have a hard time with artwork, as many people do. Art on the walls can be the difference between a sterile room and a lived-in home with personality. But artwork can be hard because:

• It can be expensive
• You may feel no connection to the piece
• You don’t know how to pick it
• You don’t know where to put it

I struggle with buying artwork for some of these same reasons, so I make it for myself, and now I’m making it for you! The best part is that these are limited edition, only a dozen or so of each kind. So, you can have TRULY UNIQUE prints in your home that nobody else will have.

I’ve started an ohbrooke SHOP (see new navigation item up top) where I’ll be adding limited edition prints as I create them. The two first prints are apropos for the upcoming holiday, Valentines Day, but needn’t be seasonal. Have a look at the first ohbrooke prints here.

Decorating With Black and White »

Sometimes it’s good to go back to the basics. Here I’ve compiled some fun black and white decorating, as well as my suggestions on products that will help make it happen.

And here are my suggestions for great black and white pieces:

Here are the highlights:

ceramic canisters {pottery barn}

nesting hexagons {west elm}

deco scroll curtain {urban outfitters}

birdie lamp base {urban outfitters}

french industrial side table {wisteria}

swedish tub chair {wisteria}

Wall Tiles {target}

Mantle Clock {target}

Accent Table {target}

above image credits from:
http://www.housetohome.co.uk
http://hookedonhouses.net/2008/03/07/decorating-inspiration-black-white/
http://mysanantonio.ctwfeatures.com/homestyle/home_20080327_contrast.html
http://alkemie.blogspot.com/2008/07/study-in-black-white-one-designers-home.html
http://freshome.com/tag/graphic-design/

Lane’s Portland Condo »

Now you can see why I was begging Lane for photos of his handsome home in Oregon. His eye for color and pattern, resourcefulness, and artistry make his home so beautiful, that you can’t visit without your jaw dropping.

Here are some things to learn from Lane:

COLOR: There are so many colors in these rooms, and they all tie in together. Have you pushed color to the limits like this?

BUDGET: Lane is budget conscious. Much of his furniture was purchased second hand, and reupholstered by Lane after having taken an upholstery class. This is not only cheaper, but adds to the personality in the room through the unique fabrics. He creates his own art. Also, when things are out of the budget, he makes it fit. His coral drawer pulls on the kitchen cabinetry were purchased two at a time until the collection was complete.

PATTERN: Lane throws out the rules, and puts all different patterns together. From the beautiful hand-painted wall mural (yes, he and his friend painted that), to the mis-matching tapestries on the bed, he displays them with confidence and they look amazing.

PRIVACY AND STYLE: Lane created a curtain wall in his bedroom, behind his headboard. This wall has raw silk curtains spanning the wall to keep the light and noise out, and to keep the warmth in.

There are so many other great things to learn from Lane’s style. See if there isn’t something you can pull from these photos that can work in your home.

It’s Been a Fun Week »

Besides some unpleasant news about layoffs and otherwise at my work, I have had a pretty fun week. Let me do a brief recap for you:

1. I made a self-proclaimed BEAUTIFUL pillow, and learned some new skills while I was at it. The elusive button-hole (my husband giggles everytime I say that…) and piping (with the help of my mom). I also discovered a fun line of organic cotton fabrics from Mod Green Pod. I used Butteryfly Jubilee.

2. I received an email from my kindergarden-aged nephew Jake. This is what the email said:

“Here are some pictures of me.”

3. On Tuesday, we had “brinner (breakfast for dinner)” with some friends.

4. I won a giveaway from Design Editor blog… cute all-occassion notecards from Push the Envelope. Now you can all race to do something nice for me so I can write you a thank-you note.

5. It’s Friday!

Web Design for Tattoo Shop »

Ink Dragon is a tattoo shop in Safford, Arizona,  my husband’s hometown. They are staffed with amazing artists including the owner, Ryan and his brother Jesse.  I am helping them gain a web presence to showcase the unique work that comes out of his shop.

So far I’ve put together two different layouts for them to choose from and then we work from there. They have already chosen their preferred layout, which would you choose?

Design Direction 1

Design Direction 2