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In Interiors & Design on

Inspiring Entryway Ideas

We’ve been talking about ways to make your home look stylish and feel welcoming. Entryways give you a chance to make a great first impression. Whether you have a formal entryway or a tiny space between your front door and living room, there’s always a way to create the illusion of one. Get inspired with the entryways below!


Rachel of Shades Of Blue Interiors proves that you only need a tiny space to create an entryway. By styling vertically, she’s able to draw the eye upward with a coat rack, wall organizer and a rustic print at the very top. The sultry leather ottoman paired with the nautical throw pillow, touches of green and airy blue wall color are perfect.


Carla Aston of Carla Aston Designed shows how you can take advantage of a larger space. An oversized mirror bounces around the available light to brighten the entryway and living room. A pair of lamps, ottomans and a bouquet of fresh flowers are a lovely addition in this modern home.

Lindi and Russell are the artistic couple who share their home on Love Create Celebrate. This entryway combines Mid-century modern flair and patterned pillows in a stylish and accessible way. They maximize their space with a floating shelf and wall hooks. Their adept use of black and white creates contrast, while the apartment photography draws interest.

I hope that you found some inspiration to style your entryway, no matter how large or small. With a little effort and imagination, you can create a space you’ll be proud of.

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In Interiors & Design, Lifestyle on

Small Changes That Have a Big Impact In Your Home

It’s January and everyone is trying to revise and improve their lives for the better. Even if you didn’t make any resolutions, it’s still important to understand what’s working, what’s not and make the necessary adjustments. In my last article, I talked about how tidying can help improve your mood and overall outlook on life. Now I’m going to give you actionable steps to make your home a place you love to come home to in the evenings. You may not realize how these small things can make a huge impact on how you feel but they absolutely do.

A Fresh Coat Of Paint

Paint is the easiest way to create a dramatic impact without having to overspend. Years ago, when my husband and I were trying to sell our home, we changed the paint color on the first floor to Benjamin Moore’s Seafoam Green. Within two days after painting, we had two offers at our full asking price. This color is a cool green that has plenty of white in it. It evoked feelings of calm and I enjoyed living there much more during the time before we moved. Paint honestly makes a difference, so invest in a high-quality neutral color that you can enjoy for years to come.

An Area Rug

An area rug will immediately warm up a space if you have hardwood floors. The contrast in texture makes an immediate impact and even if you already have carpets, double up. I currently have carpets in our home, but I placed an oriental rug in the living room to define the space. Area rugs can be used in small spaces to create a new area. In small apartments, there may not be a formal dining room or home office. Create them with a strategically placed rug. If you have children, choose one that will be durable and can be cleaned.

An Essential Oil Diffuser

Essential oils are popular right now and for good reason, they work. Lavender essential oil can calm you down after a long day. Citrus based essential oils such as orange and lemon clean the air and help you breathe easier. Another great choice is vanilla. I recently learned the reason why so many bath and beauty brands use vanilla scents in their products is because the scent aids in relaxation.

Stage Your Entryway

Your entryway is the first thing you see when you walk through the door. Why not take a little time to spice it up and wow your guest? Make sure the space is defined with a side table, even a nice dresser will work. Place a large mirror on top or hang it above the table. Find some books from your own collection or buy interior design books to stack in groups of three. A glass vase with faux or fresh flowers completes the look, with the addition of a few trinkets you may have around the house. You most likely have all these items on hand but just didn’t know to put them together. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out Pinterest.

Air Purifying Plants

If you’re looking for a chemical free way to not only freshen but purify the air in your home, plants are the answer. Plants like the garden mum, spider plant, weeping fig, aloe vera and bamboo palm have been proven to cleanse the air around them of harmful airborne pollutants. Plants are also a great way to introduce color into your space, so it’s a win-win situation

What are some of the things that you do to make your home more beautiful and relaxing? I’d love for you to share in the comments.

Photograph Courtesy of RealEstate.com

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In Interiors & Design, Lifestyle on

The Science Behind Tidying Up

Marie Kondo’s new series “Tidying Up,” sheds a light on something that we’ve known all along: being organized creates not only physical space but mental space as well. Somehow, everything having a designated area makes us feel more in control of our lives and by extension, happier. It’s amazing that something as small as cleaning up could be the start of a calmer, more fulfilling life.

Marie Kondo (Photo Credit)

I was excited when I saw “Tidying Up,” come up in my Netflix queue. Firstly, I remembered her book “The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up,” and how popular it was. Secondly, I have an affinity for Japanese culture after living and working there for 3 years. Watching Marie brought feelings of nostalgia and intrigue as I watched her help each family in her charming and delicate way. After a few episodes, I looked on YouTube to learn her KonMari Method. I began folding my clothing into small rectangles and positioning them vertically in my dresser. It saved space, although it’s a bit more tedious than my normal folding method. I couldn’t argue with it’s accessibility and effectiveness because I could see every article of clothing and didn’t have to search for anything.

KonMari Method

A study published by the scientific journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin used language analysis to measure how 60 women talked about their homes. Those who described their spaces as “cluttered,” were more likely to be depressed than those who described their homes as “restful.” The women with cluttered homes were shown to have a higher level of the stress hormone, cortisol.

At Princeton University, researchers found that clutter can make it difficult to focus on a particular task. It found that the visual cortex becomes overwhelmed by uneccesary objects, making it harder to focus on the task at hand.

Photo Credit

There have been various studies proving that being clean and organized directly effects our quality of life. There are people who feel like being unorganized is apart of their personality and not a big deal. However, if you’re suffering from depression, anxiety or overwhelm, tidying up is a small sacrifice for finding peace. The worse that can happen is you’ll know exactly where to find your red blouse.

References

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In Interiors & Design on

Nicole Gibbons of Clare Paint

Acclaimed Interior Designer, Nicole Gibbons, is disrupting the paint industry with 55 brilliantly curated paint colors that ship straight to your front door with Clare. Now we can all relax with her paint selecting process that is both simple and straight-forward. Everyone knows that paint shopping can be overwhelming because of the sheer amount of colors available. The Clare Color Genius answers that problem with 8 short questions that lead straight to the color of your dreams. The Clare paint kit paint comes complete with wall and trim paint, plus the metal tray, rollers and brushes you need to finish the job. There’s also a shop where you can pick up extra items for your paint project. Not sure if it’s the right color? Clare also provides mess free swatches that you can peel and stick to see if the selection is right for you.

Trips to your local hardware store will be a thing of the past once you’ve experienced the fuss-free and streamlined process at Clare. Where else can you access the opinion of a sought-after interior designer anytime? I can’t wait to take the quiz and get my paint recommendation! Here’s a few of the colors I love.

       Photo Courtesy of Clare “Sublime”

                                                                                Photo Courtesy of Clare “Pop”

 

                                                                              Nicole Gibbons, CEO of Clare

See what their up to over at Clare and check out those gorgeous paint colors!

 

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In Fashion on

Mikaela Pabon of Vetu de Joy

Model Jessica Franklin in Witness Dress

Mikaela Pabon is the jet-setting mother of 2 adorable kids and Creative Director of the prints centered collection, Vetu de Joy. Somehow, Mikaela balances working a full time job, owning a business and being a wife and mom with finesse and style. Transparent and down to earth, she embraces her social community as close friends who get a peek inside her amazing life. It was my pleasure to catch up with her and find out what motivated her to start Vetu de Joy.

Your line is called Vetu de joy. What is the story behind the name?

The name means “Dressed in Joy” – when I was coming up with the concept for my store, I started to think about the types of clothing that made me happiest. I realized that bright colors and bold prints made me feel great, and I wanted my customers to feel that same joy. And my middle name is Joy, so it worked out perfectly!

What type of details draw you to a piece of clothing?

Generally it’s print (or color) first, style second. The print really has to speak to me and then I look at the style or design of the piece to decide if it’s something I would love to wear, and my customers would love as well.

Where did you get your style from and where do you draw inspiration?

I get inspiration from all over the place – but primarily, my love of floral and palm prints comes from my background as a Polynesian dancer. We wore bright reds with hibiscus flowers, fresh green palm leaf adornments, and any tropical color you can think of! I’m always drawn to those types of prints. I’ve also always loved playing with different prints – well before it even had a name. Stripes and plaid, different florals, it’s always been something I’ve loved.

Why do you believe that what we wear is important?

I believe what we wear is important because often times, the very first impression we make is how we present ourselves physically. Everything from how we wear our hair to the condition of the shoes on our feet. And someone like me, who is a bit of an extroverted introvert, I often let my clothes do the talking.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Hmm… that’s a tough one. I used to stress A LOT, about small things. I’m not even sure where I got that from because neither of my parents are/were big on stress. But a long time ago, a really good friend of mine put me in my place. Lol. He told me that it ALWAYS works out. Somehow, someway, we get through it and it all works out. I’ve carried that with me for the past 15+ years and think about it every so often. I still get a twinge I’d stress here and there, but nothing like before. He was right, whatever it is, it always works out in the end.

Mikaela Pabon

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