Flavors of fall!

the Artist

It’s been an eventful summer. New crew. Juggling projects. We are currently finishing up a 4 season porch addition, and roof ice dam repair. We completed a nice exterior update last month-that I assisted with design- new front entry, board and batten, shakes, lap siding, lighting and color scheme. And with excavation and foundation work almost complete.. we are ready to start framing a detached garage that will be styled to compliment the main home. A guys dream! And just in time for the “Old Man” as the Carpenter calls winter.

When I’m not working with Applewood clients I do some organizing and staging on the side.

I love the challenge of discovering potential space and creating a cozy home environment. Yes there are a lot of us out there. Just jump onto Instagram (also check out https://www.lizmarieblog.com/interior-design-blog/ for a fabulous fall fix!) and see what is going on. Which I do.. every day. I am hugely influenced by what I see being done. I “study” what I see and tuck it into my mind for the future.

When I tackle a room, first I like to use what is already in the home and repurpose it to the room being updated. Then I head to some great stores like Hobby Lobby and Home Goods to find economical pieces to enhance and perk up the room. It can be overwhelming to walk into these stores- there are so many options! But somehow I can pick some pieces out and finish a room. Pillows, mirrors, vases, wall decor etc. It’s challenging but fun and so rewarding for the individuals I help.. to share in their excitement seeing their “old” room come to life in a whole new way! One thing I do is make sure as I work I keep within the perimeters of a persons personal style. I enhance and update their unique style. It’s not my room or my home. Another challenge that I enjoy.

Even though winter follows.. I enjoy fall season decor. The “flavors of fall.” Colors, textures, pumpkins and warm throws. It is truly the most scrumptious season for home.

I hope you can enjoy fall this year. Yes the holidays are coming, winter not much further behind.. but it’s the opportunity to stop and take it all in. Enjoy the smell of woodsmoke, a spicy coffee, and the crisp air. And take a look around your home.. move a picture to a new location, buy a couple of fall pillows or a new throw to drape over your sofa or sectional. Clean out one drawer a day. It will make all the difference!

The potential of what you have.

by the Artist

Photo by Brooke Lark via Unsplash

We welcomed two new carpenters to our team last week. Luke and Todd. Will take photos soon. We are super busy as we head into summer with a full project load. The Carpenter manages to keep all the “hammers” in the air as the weather heats up. We continue to search for more crew members. Always.

I have started following https://nestingwithgrace.com via instagram these days. I was an avid Joanna Gaine’s groupie and then I found Brooke Christen- a home designer. I was craving some color, some cozy but modern. Brooke inspires me. Her style is bold, cottage, modern and yes cozy. She embraces small spaces, and uses her small Cape on the East Coast to display her style. She isn’t afraid to paper one wall with a bold pattern, mix it up with color, use black (to ground it all) and even has a blush pink front door. Yep. She’s refreshingly eclectic. Yet maintains a fresh modern sensibility.

I love that she embraces the potential of what she has. That feels true to me. I have evolved. I treasure my small home, my small camper, my previously owned SUV :) and a simpler life. In my 20’s I dreamed of my Carpenter building a big home for us. Now I dream differently. Well of course that perspective comes with age. But still.

I recommend visiting Brooke’s blog or instagram account. I hope she inspires you as she has me to embrace the potential in your home. And maybe add that bold wallpaper you’ve been thinking about. Just one wall. :)

Staging to sell or stay!

the Artist

I am currently helping a friend stage her home to sell. A few weeks back we took a Friday off to shop for decor to freshen her very neutrally beige home. I decided on a palette of colors to base our decisions on. I picked that palette based on her current decor- the feel of her living room and much to her surprise- two wingback chairs in a pattern she dislikes. I saw cobalt blue, deep magenta and an off-white neutral. Her furnishings had a north woods lodge feel.

Armed with my color plan we took off and hit Home Goods, Hobby Lobby and Marshalls. She was on a tight budget and I knew I could find some nice items to build strong visual interest. We had a lot of fun and were quite successful.

We bought cobalt blue pillows, a beautifully textured off white shag rug for under her coffee table, not matching interesting lamps, picture frames in weathered navy and bronze, a beautiful navy wood sign for over her mantel as well as candles and navy patterned glass bowl. We also found a really amazing side console for her entry way that she ended up going back and buying the next day.

While at Home Goods I ended up helping a customer choose a rug for her living room. She was in the middle of a small remodeling project. It hit me again how much help people need in making decor choices for their homes. Especially in the midst of remodeling. It is very overwhelming. The customer asked if I was a designer and I said yes.. she said well your friend is very lucky to have your help.

It is amazing with what you can do using decor that you already have, and purchasing just a few items to freshen and update your home to sell. Well that along with decluttering!

Now my friend doesn’t want to sell her home. ;)

Hope you all are having a great week!

Just a few photos from our shopping. I didn’t take photos of everything. Will shoot some “After” photos and upload here. It is good to take lots of photos while shopping for comparison and decisions!

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A perfect 7.

by the Artist

I started this post this past Friday in very early spring... I'm finishing it today in full on summer. 80 degrees! Yes let's talk about color! The season to be bold. ...

I am not a trendsetter. I'm a trend watcher. A trend emulator. At the beginning of each season I watch for the trends that rise to the top in fashion and interior design. For obvious reasons. This year is really exciting blend of bold fresh colors, organic materials, fringy embellishments, tropical foliage and brass! I'm probably a little more enthused after living with winter white for the past six months! Oh bring on the color!!!

I made a list of what I will call my top 7 picks for Spring/Summer 2018. Seven is perfection right?

1. Tropical-palm fronds, lush foliage real or fake

2. Brass- bright brass is back as well as gold. Pair with saturated wall colors of navy, dark plums and gray

3. Stone and natural elements- organic feeling stoneware, and countertops

4. Colors- Pantone ultra violet, lavender, inky indigo blues, golds, deep teals

5. Embellishments- fringes on pillows, drapery

6. Bold colorful florals- on materials, wall paper

7. Patterns- batik, geometric

https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/decorating-ideas/g5056/home-trends-for-2018/

https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/decorate/looks/news/a3221/top-spring-summer-2018-interior-trends/

https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/color/spring-2018-color-trends-pictures

Spring

by the Artist

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

A quote I have on my personal email signature that resonates with me. Someone commented about it recently and it made me pause. I could not remember who quoted it. William Morris a 19th century author, designer and craftsman. 

A few years back I dipped my toe into a bit of professional organizing. I loved it. It was always thrilling to see a space be transformed. It took work. For me to keep patient as we worked through "donate, sell, recycle or trash" for every single item. For the other person to stay focused and work with me through the process. 

The thrilling part comes at the end when the room is clutter free. I love to "stage" the room, rearrange furniture, bring in some fresh flowers for a table that formally was completely covered in papers- coupons, bills whatever landed there. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. It's kind of like my own little "Fixer Upper" reveal. It is really a rush for this beauty bringer.

It's spring as I write this. The trees out my window have tiny leaves and buds waiting for sunshine and warmth to burst open. It's the season of new beginnings. More so then January 1 in my opinion. Who doesn't have a desire to clean something out? A drawer or garage. Organize the clutter and debris of those long housebound winter months. 

Useful and beautiful. Sentimental? A good bargain? A later possible use? How to stay in control of all the things that flow into our lives. Coupons littered on the counter among the junk mail, receipts and store purchase bags, groceries that didn't get put away, old batteries and pens that don't work, paper clips and an old key (for what?). Life on this earth can and is extremely overwhelming. Just too much stuff. Stuff strangles and can own us. I've seen it shut a person down.

I know it is easy for me to say that. I am not overly sentimental. I keep heart memories over physical memory objects. Years ago I wanted to keep something from one of our dogs when she died. The Carpenter said..."let it go and keep her memory in your heart". Well that stuck with me.

These days I share my organizing gene with friends and family. Currently I'm driving almost an hour to help a friend who owns a farm and is recently remarried. We're making room for her new husband's belongings in an already full house with not the best storage. The hours fly by like minutes. It is intensely gratifying work and brings me such happiness to bring happiness to another person. And it doesn't hurt that it is a farm if any of you know me. ;) 

Creative blues.

by the Artist

We are deep smack in the middle of winter. We haven't seen the sun for days. No exaggeration. Even for me who usually can handle the gloomies.. I'm feeling... just a bit gloomy. No matter how you slice it. Winter will be around for at least 6 more weeks here in Minnesota! The hard core stuff anyway. 

I thought I'd share a little of what has caught my eye and inspired me.. to chase away the winter blues. Come along with me!

I love tiny houses! I love the cool interior designs and the creative use of space. This tiny house features copper details, and an excellently designed loft. Perfect. I think you will agree! http://www.today.com/home/tiny-farmhouse-t107247

Green it is! https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2017 I chose this color for my Mother -in-law's kitchen. It is a very small kitchen and was very blah. She loves green. Picked up a beautiful print as a focal point for over her sink. It's just darn cheery to hang out in there now! 

Check out this video from the Today Show. Pops of color and organic elements are being added to the modern look! http://www.today.com/home/home-trends-2017-t107381

I love navy! I have to give a shout out to my "design mecca" Target! Passed by a lovely navy and white home decor display today. So clean and fresh after the holidays! 

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I also was at Caribou Coffee recently. Snapped a pic of this very organic end table! Fits the organic trend! (and gave me a super idea. We have a bunch of large cottonwood logs that would make some nice tables... "hey Mr Carpenter.. are you doing anything??"

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And last I love all things Joanna Gaines! I don't even need to say anything more. If you haven't been to her website lately... take a peek! https://magnoliamarket.com

Well I had an entirely different post idea but look where I landed! I think I will continue posting home design in all it's forms as I run across it. 

At least for now. My "gloomies" are gone!

A person can change.

by the Artist

I had plans. dreams. A lovely large home. Built especially for me by the Carpenter on a pretty spot of land. Years ago I had even come up with some plans.

We built some larger custom spec homes a few years back and that only fueled my dreams. The last spec home we built was as close to my dream home that I could imagine. The Carpenter and I designed it from "scratch". Even though we built it to sell... I built if for me. And I did get to live there for awhile. And it was a dream. I wanted to stay forever. Not just because of the house but because of the quaint neighborhood where it was located. 

Well eventually you have to wake up. We moved back to our "real" home. I was determined to let that dream go. And I have. I now appreciate my smaller home, and in fact the desire for a larger home is long gone. The desire to live in that neighborhood is gone. (ironically the Carpenter wants to move back in a few years!) Maybe that comes with age. But I also think I've come to appreciate efficiency, smaller organized spaces. Minimalism. I even shop differently. I only buy what I need when I need it. 

And I think part of what has influenced this change in me is the "tiny house" trend. I don't think I could live full time in a "tiny house", but I can appreciate the lifestyle. And the creativity to be able to live that lifestyle. Here is a sweet "tiny house" from Houzz.com that is beautifully designed. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/70571277?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u3538&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0

Our company's brand line "Helping you love where you live" resonates with me more then ever now too. Staying where you live, embracing the potential in your home. Making the most of every square inch. Who would have thought that small homes would be trending post decades of bigger is better. That some are downsizing before they have an empty nest. That it's more a lifestyle choice, an intentional choosing of a smaller efficient footprint.

I'm excited about this. Call us if you are too!

Where is the tv?

I remember my Grandmother's TV/stereo cabinet from the 1960s. It was long and looked like a side buffet. It had a built-in stereo that you accessed from the top and featured multiple doors across the front which were mostly fake. The only ones that opened were where the TV resided which was also built-in.

She had the most beautiful elegant drapes that she hung from wall to wall (the width of the living room) and ceiling to floor- that hung behind the cabinet. (she also made her own tailored clothing, my first pair of bell bottoms- floral corduroy, all my Barbie clothes, my wedding dress and all the drapes for my first home). That TV/stereo cabinet paired with the drapes was the focal point of the room. She was truly a trend setter!

Remember the 80's "entertainment centers" that came into vogue.. where VCR's, stereos and the TV all hung out together in one cabinet sometimes made of lovely fake wood? You can still spot one of these treasures sitting at the end of a driveway with a free sign.

We built two custom homes in the early 2000's that featured the emerging trend of full wall entertainment centers featuring book cases, fireplace, and TV/Stereo cabinet spaces. At that time the trend was still.. hide the TV/stereo behind cabinet doors. It was a beautiful seamless solution to incorporating entertainment systems gracefully into more formal rooms.

Somewhere in the last ten years (I'm just estimating here) TVs came out of their cabinets. They became thin and sexy- no longer resembling their former boxy selves. And to accommodate these new beauties.. a whole new styled cabinet came into favor.. sleek and low.

And somewhere along the way some TVs- or should I say.. flat screens? left their cabinet homes once and for all, and started hanging out on walls. What a change! This all leads to the link I'm going to give you. I find these ideas worthy of passing on to you. Ways to incorporate your flat screen TV onto a wall with grace. You can paint a section of wall, add a textured stone wall the color of the TV, mount in a collage gallery grouping etc. Just check it out here if this interests you. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/72580906?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u3710&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery1

Where possibly can the TV go next? I'm guessing there will be no TVs as we know them. Stay tuned for that!

My Grandmother's cabinet looked similar to this cabinet.. but it had wire mesh over the doors. Actually I think it is still sitting in my Dad's garage! 

Kitchen trending.

by the Artist

I threw them out! (I am not a saver which normally is a very good thing) I had beautiful brass hardware on my kitchen cabinets. Installed in 1998. I regretted going with brass in 1998 because brushed chrome rushed in and reigned supreme about the time I chose brass. I wanted to change over all the hardware in my home to brushed chrome. But I didn't. By the mid 2000's (approx) oiled bronze was the reigning king. For my birthday one year the Carpenter replaced all my kitchen hardware with oiled bronze bin pulls and knobs. I was so happy.

And now 18 years after renovating our Cape Cod... brass is back! Well thank goodness I didn't replace any door knobs or hinges! And really why is this worthy of a post? Because I am seeing a trend and I'm liking it a lot. Well more then a lot. Kitchens with black or dark navy painted cabinets- bases mostly- white painted walls, white or white with patterned tiles and brass fixtures and hardware. I have four words... bold, crisp, clean. Love. 

I don't write much these days about trends. But this has really caught my eye. Along with the fact that we just completed the Modern Farmhouse project which was full of beautiful white and black exterior/interior details. In particular because this winter I am planning on updating my home. I will start in the kitchen. I can easily change the wall color from sage green to white or pale gray, I can easily paint the base cabinets (well the Carpenter can easily do that), black or dark navy, and I can easily buy new hardware and sink fixture. Because I do have a white sink so the brass fixture will fit nicely. 

Here are just a few photos I grabbed from Pinterest. You can check out the boards I've put together for Applewood here https://www.pinterest.com/applewood8/

And just google or head to Pinterest and research this trend. Home design right now is so beautiful. There is a freshness that has been missing with the past trend of taupes and earth tones.

go to the above Pinterest link for photo credits!

No bumpy road!

by the Artist

I'm getting more design consults. That is a good thing. Basically if you sign on a project with us, you get me (the Artist/Designer) to help you navigate the sometimes bumpy decision road. It doesn't matter how large or small the project. It doesn't matter if you know what you want, but you don't know how to get there, or you have no idea what you want and don't know where to start, or you just need someone to listen to you work through the options. I'm your girl.

As Applewood grows.. and we are growing quite quickly these days.. I've been able to assist our homeowners in making the decisions needed for their project. Paint colors, tile, lighting, flooring. And here's the great part.. my assistance comes at no additional charge to you. It comes with the signed project. I will come to your home or meet you at a tile shop for as many times as you need till you are sure of your choice.

I've been told that I have a nice manner about me. I am not a "forceful" type person. I've been called "soft". I come alongside and gently lead you to your own decision. I do not push my own personal design sensibilities on you. I identify your style and go from there. It's all about you. It's all about updating your personal style. You don't think you have a style? You do.

So if you have a project in mind.. don't know an interior designer or don't have the funds for one.. you might want to consider Applewood Builders for your project. Not only will you end up with a wonderful new addition or remodel... but the journey to your dream might not be as difficult as you imagine.