HOW TO MAKE A SPRING PICNIC BASKET CENTERPIECE

After a long harsh winter, filled with bitter cold, snow drifts and cabin fever, everyone is just bursting to get outside for Spring to enjoy some outdoor living! One way to kick off the upcoming outdoor living season is by dining alfresco, which can be a beautiful & casual setting for your family's Easter brunch. Although when we lived in Arizona, we didn't have family, the hubs and I still enjoyed heading outside for our Easter dinner. Arizona was a place I started collecting baskets, and one fun basket I came across while thrifting was a tall picnic basket. I may not have used it for picnics, but the basket became a great textured container to create a simple Spring centerpiece, which can be used indoors or out. Here is what I did...

 

It all started with a picnic basket I scored at the thrift store...

 

After adding the cylinder risers and daisies,  I used the textiles, and a few spare leaves to tuck into the back of the basket, making it appear as if Spring is just bursting to come out! The simple green and white color scheme is just refreshing after seeing a season of winter greys...

 

Since this home was a rental, we really couldn't do much to the unfinished divider wall, so I used another collected basket for a simple outdoor wall decor...

 

The green & white gingham table topper was another thrift find, I layered over linen fabric I had used as a table cover. Since we didn't have an outdoor dining set, I used a folding table (the one I'd frequently use inside for 'table for two settings), but to make it larger, I put a 42" MDF framed mirror on top of the 36" folded table - The backside of the mirror was flat, and you'd never know it was there after the table was dressed (simple small space solution!)

The weathered X back chairs were another amazing thrift find I had scored in Phoenix, (you can read about here, but have since sold!) and they worked great to create outdoor seating. If there is one good thing to say about being in a dessert state, it has to be that I was able to set this outdoor setting, without having to worry about rain -- just sun!

 

No trees either, so having an outdoor umbrella was a must - plus it gave me another place to layer in a shot of green color, to pick up on the centerpiece...

 

 Before & After Spring Spruce-Up in our small (drought tolerant) backyard in Phoenix - you can read in a previous post at: Rental ReStyle: Budget-Friendly Backyard Spring Spruce-Up

 

And if it's still too cold, or worse, snowing, where you live this Easter, you can still create a Springtime Alfresco setting indoors too, creating the same picnic basket centerpiece, plus layering woven chargers or placematts with gingham, checks, or plaid... and for Easter, don't forget the bunnies! (Remember these? A Florida thrift find & DIY fix, you can read about at: Hoppy Spring Bargain Bunnies)

 

Although I like to change things up, some holiday decor traditionally makes it's way to the table every year - like these birds nests from HomeGoods, but this year, they were filled with golden chocolate eggs... A great little compliment to the vintage Greek Key border table set I also scored thrifting, but up in Scottsdale... The vintage brass coupes (yes - another Phoenix thrift find!) made an elegant riser for the nests...

 

I hope you're inspired to create a simple Spring Centerpiece of your own to set on your Easter table, whether you dine inside or out! Afterwards, use this centerpiece on a buffet or entry table if it's still winter by you, for a taste of Spring indoors -- if not, layer it into your front entry or Spring patio decor!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

6 SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR 2014 DESIGN RESOLUTIONS

It's a new year and time for some newness! When was the last time you really refreshed the look of your home? Even if you live in a small space or you're renting, your dwelling could be in need of a refresher. Refreshing the look of your home need not require an entire overhaul. For 2014, why not try a new shot of color with painted furniture, open up a space without knocking down walls, brighten up a space without adding a window, add height + volume + storage - with a few design tricks. Taking some time to rethink the design style of your home can help re-energize your outlook for the year ahead by changing by what you see. Here are six ideas to inspire you...

 

via

 

 via 

ADD MIRRORS
If your small space has minimal windows, hanging mirrors can help bring light into your space. In additon to letting in more natural light, mirrors can help a small space feel larger. Use one large statement piece or make your own stament with a mirror gallery as a focal point. Collect a mix of mirrors with different fame styles and unite their look by painting them in a cool color or - go for the gold - and add the hot metal trend to your home.

 via 

 via

REMOVE DOORS
Whether it's an over-cabinated kitchen or a guest bedroom closet, try removing doors to make a space feel more open. If removing closet doors, use this space to create an office niche: Paint out the inside with a fun & vibrant color - something to inspire & energize your while you work from planning a family vacay to dealing with bills & budgets. If you already have a home office space, replace closet doors with curtain panels to soften the look of the space plus add a pretty pattern without paint. In a kitchen, lighten the look of heavy cabinetry by removing doors from upper cabinets to create an open shelf look.

 

 via

via 

GO VERTICAL
From building a wall unit to hanging drapes to creating a wall gallery - go full height - utilize your vertical space to add volume in a small area. My personal fave to do in a small space to add height in is the bathroom: Repurpose those 84" panels in the bathroom to add height + volume to the space (vs. a standard 72" shower curtain) In some cases, going even higher, 96" panels, can help keep heat & warmth in the shower during winter. Adding a valance or a vertical trim detail can further enhance the verticality of a small space.

 

 Benjamin Moore via 

 

 via

PAINT TRIM WALL COLOR
Don't get me wrong - I love the look of a classic & crisp look of white baseboards, but cutting off the color before it hits the floor can further dwarf a small space. Every inch counts in some small spaces, so rather than shorten the height of the room, add it by painting the baseboard (and crown molding) the same color as the wall -- but paint it in a different finish to enhance its architectural detail. 

 

 via

 

 via

PAINT YOUR FURNITURE
Board with beige and espresso has you feeling tired? Wake up your existing furniture - or new thrift finds - with a pop of color, or even patter. Some great colors to choose from are Old Navy blue from Benjamin Moore, Barn Red from Valspar or even go for the color of the year 2014 and paint a piece with Poetic Purple (also from Valspar). Painted furniture is a means of adding that color punch without committing to an entire wall, or room, of it, and if you don't like it - change it. Another option to adding painted furniture is shop for it already done, from local vintage shops or even HomeGoods.

 

 via

 

 Jan Showers Harrison Bar Cart via 

ADD A BAR CART
Whether you drink or not, a bar cart can be a great multi-task furniture piece for a small space. Placed between two chairs in the living room, it's a wonderful table with a place for treasures or book displays. In a kitchen, a bar cart is additional storage space for appliances & dishes, plus it can be used to serve tea or make a hot chocolate bar in winter. And of course during times of celebration, a bar cart becomes your best ally when entertaining. Whether acrylic, brass, wicker or painted a powerful color - the best attribute about using a bar cart in a small space is: it's on wheels so it's super easy to move-it move-it :)

Hope these small space solutions help inspire your design resolutions...

Thanks for stopping by!

A (small) CHRISTMAS KITCHEN

In our Florida townhome, we had an average sized, all white kitchen with black counter-tops and grey metallic mini-subway tile back-splash. It was open to the great room, with a bar height counter, we frequently ate at, wrote holiday cards, served buffets, hosted get-togethers at, cut coupons and even played poker at. Although we don't have the white & bright kitchen or bar height counter we had in our home in Florida, we have made the best of our small kitchen here in AZ. We actually now use the dining table more (especially me with the laptop!) here in our rental home in Arizona. For holiday, I wanted to add a little holiday feel without adding "decorations" in this (small) kitchen. To add a holiday feel without clutter, I used more color vs the everyday black & white in our grey kitchen. To add the color I switched the B&W photos on the pantry wall to green chalkboard holiday art (I converted from black I got on Pinterest) and I used a green buffalo check runner on the table (actually, it's a repurposed window valance!) Adding a few green pillows to the off-white slip-covered dining chairs also gave the small kitchen space some holiday color without the clutter of too many decorations. More green came from a small wreath in the window, two small arrangements, and garland framing the dining space window. It sounds like a lot, but it's not - Here is my small kitchen for Christmas...

 

A few touches of trim plus color was all that was needed to add a little Christmas feel to our small kitchen, and still keep it functional for everyday - and especially extra holiday tasks like baking cookies, cooking special meals, making arrangements and writing holiday cards...

 

 The dining table (my mom gave us the set as a wedding / house warming gift in Florida) is getting used quite frequently here in the kitchen. I'm usually sitting here blogging, pinning, tweeting and facebooking. Most recently, I used the table and the island for making my holiday arrangements and it is also where we now sit to write out our holiday cards...

 The buffalo check runner - actually a window valance I picked up at Goodwill last year ($4!) gives the table just a touch of holiday and is easy to slide over when needed...

 

I've been drinking a lot of tea lately to stay warm - The fresh pine & red tea bags in the white mugs create just a hint of holiday as the small vignette on a tray (I also picked up at Goodwill last year)

 

Ribbon tied around a mercury glass bottle (I picked up at HomeGoods) dresses up an everyday accessory for holiday...  More tea, plus coffee and sugar and everyday dishes are stacked on the island shelves...

 

These everyday white plates are on the back side, just a turn away from the dishwasher, making it easy to unload. Just a few cedar branches are on the island to give it a touch of holiday...

 

  Keeping the holiday vignette small and on a tray makes it easy to move off the kitchen island to make holiday arrangements or bake cookies... Tea on the island and coffee across the way along with the out-of-sight-catch-all spot tucked in the corner...

 

 

Small white bowls stacked on the counter help brighten the dark kitchen, and they are left empty because we use them everyday - for mixing, for salads, and now with winter: for oatmeal or soup. Tumblers make great small vases more a petite arrangement of holiday greens...

 

 

 

Using this tray basket makes clean-up a cinch!  Pads, notes, pens and laptop all fit in the basket, which goes on the bookcase under the TV in the living-room. All the wires & mouse go into the gold mesh bag, and the table is cleared...

 

 

 I refreshed the small kitchen wall framed B&W photos for holiday chalkboard art printables I found on Pinterest - but I converted to green chalkboard - because there is already enough black in the kitchen everyday. I'll share how I converted the black to green chalkboard art next...

 SO even if your kitchen is small or your living in a rented space, you can create some Christmas charm in your kitchen without going overboard with actual decorations - Just use color and keep it simple.

Thank you for stopping by by Christmas kitchen. Visit my previous post Christmas Kitchen Decorating for additional ideas for yours.

Happy Holiday Decorating!

 

Sharing post at the 

HomeGoods - Design Happy Blog - Holiday Link-Party!

Linked post to:

Christmas Extravaganza - Setting For Four