Decorating on a Limited Budget

Last month, interior designer Gail Doby provided some wonderful tips on how to decorate a new house on a limited budget. Since we recently bought a new house with a main floor in desperate need of a makeover, and to say we have a limited budget would be an understatement, I decided to try some of Gail's suggestions for our dining room. I took a look around our house to see what we already have to work with, and found out that we had more than I thought we did. Then I chose some colors and went to the paint store.

This is what I started with - a dull and boring color, an almost empty room and an old table with a missing chair.




And this is what I ended with. I painted the walls a bright yellow, replaced the missing chair and refinished the table and chairs, and moved an old dresser into the room along with some art that was in another room.




And the total price tag for supplies was under $300 if you can believe it. I still can't get over how much of a difference a few cans of paint and rearranging furniture can make in a room. And it is something anyone can do.


I would still like to change out the art work on the smaller wall. So, I searched the Design Style Guide website and found a few wonderful prints that I think would look great and complete our makeover.


Like this Sleeping Bunting print from Wannabes, Photography by Deborah Brackenbury.




And this Colorful Tulips print from Renie Britenbucher Glass Tapestry Artworks




And this Rooster Print from Torrie Smiley




So get inspired with Design Style Guide website and go makeover your home!

A French Country Style Dining Area

Maybe it's because I've been refinishing my dining room table that I have dining room decor on the brain. I love the French Cottage style and here are some great finds for your French Country Dining Room from a few of the wonderful artisans that are found in Design Style Guide.

I love this Rooster painting. It would add a touch of whimsy to the room.

Young Rooster -- Original Oil Painting From: Jean Levert Hood - Fine Art See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

And here is a beautiful cottage style China cabinet and serving buffet to go with the rooster painting above.

Shabby Cottage Style Vintage China Cabinet & Serving Buffet From: Pink Paper Rose See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

This gorgeous vintage chandelier will make dinner sparkle and seem like a special occasion every night.

Vintage Wedding Cake Chandelier From: Sheri See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

And here is a nice set of table and chairs. I like the contrast of dark wood with the white paint.

Harvest Dining Table From: Black Mountain Furniture See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

And why not add a bright floral arrangement to add a bit of color to the room.

Rhapsody Floral Arrangement From: Wreathmic Creations See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

Village in Late Summer by Carl Sandburg

Lips half-willing in a doorway.

Wallflower by ArtSnark.

Lips half-singing at a window.

Cat in a Window by Gary Heller Photography.

Eyes half-dreaming in the walls.

Linger by Robin Maria Pedrero.

Feet half-dancing in the kitchen.

Red by Zombie Penguen.

Even the clocks half-yawn the hours

Framed Photograph on Canvas by The Painted Lily.

And the farmers make half-answers.

Cultivating the Peas by Walt Curlee.

Bathrooms

I don’t know about you but I am always fascinated with other peoples’ bathrooms and especially hotel ones! It is a wonderful feeling when you enter a nice hotel room to have a quick peek at the ensuite facilities especially when you get the ‘wow’ factor as you switch on the illuminations.

Well the following might not be from hotels but they certainly rank high in the ‘wow’ stakes!

Very striking handmade pair of bath soap dishes from Page Pottery

The dishes are hand made and textured. The round feet on the bottom of the dish make it extra cute, especially with the textures on them!

Spring green linen hand towels by Decorative Instincts

These would be perfect for your guests!

Weigh In – set of 2 prints by F2Images

Could be a thoughtful reminder to step on the scales!

Shelf – D by Wood Goods by Don

Now this could be so useful for all those knick knacks or and even hang your hand towel.

Handmade green bath set by Page Pottery

This set includes a Tray, Melon Air Freshener, Lavender Bath Salts and Mint Julep Lip Balm

Under the Sea Tool by Tracey Garcia Designs

The Under the Sea stool would be great in a bath or kids room; anywhere where a step up is needed!

This would look amazing in the bathroom!

Cloud by Cove byArtimentary

An original mosaic by Antonia Lindsey

Thank you to the sellers of the amazing products that I found in the Interior Design Team on Etsy!!

Good Day Sunshine

I woke this morning with the song "Good Day Sunshine" in my head and decided to see what sunny yellow items I could feature for my post today.

I love these sherbert lemon flowers from ffflowers. They are so bright and sunny. And the best part about these flowers is that they never need watering and they never wilt.

This Spring Sunshine giclee print from Karen Faulkner is so sunny. It would definitely brighten up your room! Karen Faulkner is also featured in the first Design Style Guide giveaway, which ends June 3, so hurry for a chance to win!

This Silver Copper Sunrise sun catcher from Nature's Studio would bring the warmth of the sun right into your room.

Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers. I love how this Sunshine watercolor by Sagewest captures their weight and sunny disposition.

Be sure to visit Design Style Guide

or search designstyleguide on etsy

for more beautiful, handmade, sunny home decor items.

Earth Day - Garden Inspired Home Decor

Today is Earth Day. So in honor of our Earth, I thought I would find some garden inspired decor for both the outside and inside of your home from Design Style Guide.


Here are your Keys to Gardening by Studio Musings. This cute windchime is made from vintage keys and an upcycled, metal watering can.




Here is a beautiful, handmade, glass birdbath by Glorious Glass Garden for your feathered freinds.




This gorgeous Cirtine Garden Plate by Catnip Studio uses broken, vintage, German china in the center. So pretty!



This pretty little handpaited flowerpot by Rebekah with Love would brighten up a windowsill or entryway.




Why not give your feathered friends a beautiful place to live with this Midnight Sun, Hand-carved Gourd Bird House by Midnight Coiler.



For more home and garden items, check out etsy and search keyword "designstyleguide".


Or visit the Design Style Guide website.

Room With A View - Welcome To My World

Whether your world is big or small, mad or wonderful, it is a wide, wide world in terms of interior design and home decor. Liven up any room in your home with handmade decor featuring coast to coast world and map graphics by the Design Style Guide team on Etsy.

This world map wall decal from rEvolv3r comes in several sizes and colors, and is especially suited to a living room or home office.

Home accessories, such as this custom decoupaged map tray from Carolina's Cottage, are sure to assist your desk or tabletop organization while incorporating visual interest into any decorating style.

This vintage globe turned wall clock from IMOTIME adds dimension, color, and humor to the art of clock-watching.

A black and white topography art pottery bowl from Love Art Works is large enough for showcasing favorite tabletop treasures while allowing the design to shine through.

Handcut and etched copper, over glossy textured red, punches up a representation of the Seattle, Washington area in wall art from Copper Leaf Studios.

Roads Traveled, an original acrylic painting from Fauve Studio, suggests a world map in striking, abstract style.

Functional art, this storage table from Kelly Guswiler Studio displays a Chesapeake Bay, Virginia chart map preserved under polyacrylic, and accented with stained glass mosaic tiling and rain glass doors.

Elegant AND affordable wall art

I can't say enough about my satisfaction with DaliDecals. They are a member of Design Style Guide under BadassDecals but it's the same company. They are a JOY to work with. I recently purchased several different patterns from them along with two from a different decal company within the Etsy stores. The difference in quality was amazing. DaliDecals won...hands down! They have a huge selection to choose from and will work quickly on commission ideas that the homeowner may have.
My story.....I had a large brunch and was in a budget crunch. I needed wall art for several walls. We live in a smaller cottage style home where wall space is at a premium. I ordered the "signature" design, the branch limb featured in their logo above and put it up in my living room. I used the flowers for my very narrow staircase and used another paisley design for above my guest bedroom bed. I'm always leery of hanging things above a headboard, for fear it may fall on a guest! This LOVELY paisley design was large, the correct size, came in every color imaginable and was shipped very fast. So, if you're like me, and need some fresh, high quality wall art that lives up to its name, please visit DaliDecals. I have a custom order in at the moment so this will make my fourth or fifth purchase from them! Visit their shop for some beautiful eye candy! With gratitude, Laurie B.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5958100

Oh Canada

No matter where in the world you live, I think it's important to have national pride. I am a Canadian and think that Canada is a pretty great country. We're first to celebrate Thanksgiving. Our elections are done. Our banks are still healthy. (Just saying - tongue in cheek!) We get real winters where you can skate on ponds and go tobogganing. And we've got talent. From Howie Mandel to Celine Dion, and a whole slew of famous and not so famous talents all born north of the 49th parallel.

Canadians are well represented in the visual arts and fine craft fields too. These are just a few of the artisans from north of border that are featured on Etsy.

Lori Mirabelli from Ontario.

Poetic Designs by Yolanda Prang from Ontario.

Robert Glass Art from Quebec.

Lenkart from Ontario.

Fallen Roses by Jennifer Scott from Ontario.

Studio 17 from Ontario.

In all seriousness, talent knows no boundaries and no matter where in the world you are from, beauty and style are still an important part of our everyday lives. Be proud of who you are and where you are from; and support independent artisans!