My New Backyard Project: Balcony Railings

You've probably heard me mention the need for a balcony railing on the retaining wall in the backyard several times. We had no idea when we built our house that the backyard was on a large slope until the lot was cleared. My husband was upset because a pool was something we wanted to put in right away, and he didn't think it was possible. I assured him that we could build a retaining wall and have steps down to the pool that would look amazing. I was right, but I didn't realize how much more expensive retaining walls and balcony railings would cost. We were way over our budget because of it when we built our pool so we nixed the railing. I was so nervous someone would fall off the retaining wall that I added these tall potted junipers for a visual barrier. They did the job for a good two years, but my youngest son did fall off the wall right before Christmas. He slipped on ice when we had snow and freezing rain as he was running from the back door to the side yard. Thankfully, the chaise lounge broke his fall and he just ended up with a bruised bum. He has since decided he doesn't like snow!

Do you see how dangerous this could be? I haven't measured, but I believe there's about eight feet between the kitchen island and the drop-off. That distance is probably why we haven't any other accidents. My first priority this spring was to install a railing after a contractor no-showed last summer. I also really wanted to replace the chandeliers in the living room, dining room and foyer too. In order to do both I considered adding inexpensive fencing panels I found at Home Depot. My husband was convinced he could do it. I decided to just get one more quote to see the price difference. It turns out after talking to the contractor that those fencing panels were open on the ends and would end up rusting within a year or two. That means no chandeliers! Not only did we get a quote for the railing, I also got a quote for stone pillars. I noticed this look in several homes and on trips to Mexico and Capri. Even though it was more expensive for the pillars I decided to go ahead with it because it isn't one of those things I can go back and add later.

Sidenote-I also want these umbrellas and clay pots!

Here is the closest example of what ours will look like when completed. Eventually, I'd love to add the stone on the face of the retaining wall and stairs like in this photo. 

BHG

The stone we planned on using is the same as the pool wall. It's a split face travertine with a combination of cream and brown split face travertine. 

The only problem is the company that supplied it no longer sells it, and the contractor can't find it anywhere else. The contractor did find this exact cream colored stone, but there just won't be any brown in it. I have to admit that I'm not that upset because I've never really been a fan of the brown stone. It doesn't really bother me, but it kind of looks like patchwork to me. My only concern is that we would have two different types of stone back here. I was in a bit of a quandary last night when they told me about the stone being discontinued. 

I decided to go ahead with the cream stone instead of trying to find the cream/brown one after thinking about it. The deciding factor was knowing I eventually want to add stone to the front of the retaining wall. If I'm not thrilled with the way it looks on the pool wall then I definitely wouldn't be happy with it on a larger surface. Maybe when I get the retaining wall done next I can ask them to replace the brown stones on the pool? I have no idea if that's an option, but you never know until you ask. FYI, this is an old pic. You wouldn't believe how tall and wide the trees have gotten!

Here is the progress with the cinderblock framing for the pillars. I forgot to take a picture, but I was able to screenshot a previous Instagram story. There will be black iron panels between the stone pillars. They are plain for cost reasons. Honestly, the reason why we went with the stone pillars is that an iron railing with any detail to it is almost the same price as the plain iron with the stone pillars. 

As I'm typing I can hear the guys outside cutting the iron panels. The stone work is just beginning, too. I'll update on my Instagram stories later today so you can see the progress!

This Week's Fashion Round-Up

TGIF! We're chilling out at home tonight like we usually do on Friday nights. The boys get their Xbox remotes back after not having them all week long so there's no way they would leave the house to go anywhere. I don't mind because the weather was so nice this evening that I enjoyed a couple of hours on the back patio with a glass of wine. 

This week was busy, but so fun. I had a couple of design jobs and we're in the middle of a big home project. It's fun because it isn't a DIY! I will be sharing the details soon. If you follow me on Instagram, check my stories out for a sneak peek. Today, I headed to the Decorative Center in Houston to look at a few wallpaper and fabric samples in person. I loved every single one! Once I get all of those decisions finalized I'll post them here. Here's a round-up of what I wore this week, not including gym clothes. Do you want to see workout outfits? I can definitely post them if so. Comment below!

Today's look at the design center. The jacket is from Cole Haan, but several years old.

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Here are a couple of work looks. Both days I staged homes so flats were a must. This day it was cold and rainy. The day before (see the second pic below) was warm and humid, which is why there is such a seasonal difference. Texas weather in the spring is crazy!

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Next week is also going to be busy with our home project wrapping up. It will be completed just in time for a party I'm hosting. I've been planning it for months, and I can't believe the day is almost here. I will be sharing all of the details of course!

Master Bedroom Progress

I mentioned a few times that my living room update led to a master bedroom update. It's because I moved the black and white abstract painting (see below) from the living room to an empty wall in the master bedroom that was just perfect for it.

Here is the before. I loved the look of it, but white duvets made of sheet material are just not for me. It was always a wrinkly mess! I always kept this door shut when we had guests over because I am just not the type of person to iron anything, especially bedding.

I was so tired of the bedding looking terrible and over those lamps (only one worked and the shade was broken on the other). I had been considering moving the black and white artwork to the bedroom and adding a solid ivory duvet for a while. The only problem is large scale artwork is expensive. When I realized the painting I really wanted for the living room was 50% off I bought it, and that is what spurred this two room makeover!

I have to tell you the stars aligned for the best deals ever in this room. I found these Ralph Lauren lamps for $50 each at Homegoods. They looked so much like the ones I have been wanting for several years from Restoration Hardware. The RH ones are over $400 each. Yikes! I did find them on Amazon for a bit over $50, but they're still a great deal if you are interested in them (linked below). I knew I wanted bedding from Hotel Collection. Bedding is something you have to touch before you buy in my opinion. I loved how luxurious this bedding felt in person, but I was really drawn to the heavier fabric that wouldn't wrinkle like my previous duvets. I am so tired of messy beds! The best part it was on sale plus an extra 25% off.

I added the bench back from the foyer. I originally bought it for this room, but needed a piece in there so I borrowed it way too long. I'm thinking about putting it under the artwork and buying a small sofa to go in front of the bed since I have plenty of room. The pillows on it are borrowed from another room. They may just end up staying here. Who knows?!

The bedding is almost complete. I picked two additional pillows to go behind the lumbar, but I haven't had a chance to order them since they're custom. They are mostly neutral with just a bit of black, which I think this bed needs. I still need art or mirrors for above/around the bed. I haven't had a chance to look for anything yet. Maybe I'll just add moulding or wallpaper instead. There are so many possibilities! I just really don't want to paint because I'm the one who ends up painting.

I don't believe I've shown you this chandelier! It's the one I bought for the dining room a while back that was too small. It's pretty during the day, but absolutely fabulous at night with the way the crystals reflect the light. At first I thought it would be too traditional for the room, but I'm liking this mix of contemporary and traditional.

Isn't that wall perfect for the art?

The cream rug with the blue doesn't go in here any longer. I'm thinking a cream and taupe rug would be perfect. I just have to find one...

Ah look at that! There's one right in my living room. I haven't completely decided if I'm going to move it, but I have been wanting a bigger and more colorful rug for the living room.

The best part about this makeover is the way I feel when I walk in here. It feels clean, fresh, luxurious and peaceful. It's odd, but I can't wait to make my bed in the mornings. It's been so many years since I felt that way. The bedroom door can now stay open when we have guests over!

I still have a huge list to tackle before I finish this room, but it just feels better already!

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OOTD: Black and Leopard

Yesterday was all about spring and today we're back to winter. The temperature dropped over 20 degrees this morning while I was having coffee on my back porch. I needed to get dressed for a design appointment anyway! I staged another home today so I wore flats again. I never know when I'm going to be moving furniture. Today, I ended up pushing two desks together to simulate a dining table. It worked! Sometimes you just have to improvise. 

I have to talk about these jeans for a minute. They are skinny mid-rise ankle length jeans from Banana Republic. Even though they are skinny, they aren't so tight that there are creases all the way down the leg. I've been having an issue with designer jeans taking skinny a bit too far. The best part is they are on sale! I picked up a white pair yesterday. I think I've tried on just about every pair of white jeans the past month, and these are the only ones I found that aren't full of creases or semi-sheer.

The top and scarf are sold out, but I found similar ones below.

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Cute Spring Outfit: J.Crew Factory

It already feels like spring in Houston! The high has been 80 the past week so I broke out my new spring outfit today on my way to a design appointment. The best part is this top and skirt are 50% off right now plus free shipping (use code evenbetter)!

I just love the scalloped detail on the edge of the skirt. I'm seeing it everywhere right now.

I styled it with pearl studs because I was feeling a bit preppy today. 

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2018 Home Trends

I've read several articles on home trend predictions for 2018 and in my opinion some of them are just plain odd. Yellow is coming back? Was it ever in, or even out? Maybe these are very high end designs we won't see for several years. I decided to weigh in on new trends I am seeing from some of my favorite designers.


Warmer Colors and More Color Overall

White and gray has been king for several years. You know I'm a fan! That doesn't mean you have to completely get rid of your decor and start over. Fresh, light and bright is still in! You're not going to see a return of heavy, dark interiors this year. I believe colors will be more layered. I have been slowly adding blue and caramel/brown to my living room to warm it up.

I'm also seeing a return of more color. When I say color most people flinch because they are picturing primary colors. Adding just a small third color to your room can give it so much depth. I did this in my own room by adding a pop of pink through an orchid arrangement on my coffee table. Don't listen to the old advice that color must be repeated. Sometimes all you need is that tiny pop of color from flowers, a small pillow, or a vase. Even a room that is considered neutral at first glance may have several variations of color (not to mention texture) when studied in more detail to add interest. The result is rooms may appear neutral, but they aren't going to be as flat.

Contemporary lines

Regardless of style, everything is moving more contemporary. If you're a fan of Fixer Upper you may notice even farmhouse is getting a modern makeover. This dining room still has all the farmhouse elements-rustic furniture, words on the wall, shiplap and a rustic piece on the wall with peeling paint. The lighting is very current. The black and white contrast is definitely edgy. There's also a minimalism to this room. To get this look without changing too much of your current farmhouse decor streamline a bit by taking a few signs off the wall or minimizing your accessories. Consider modern fixtures that could still be considered farmhouse through lighting or cabinet hardware.

HGTV

As much as I love contemporary decor I also love traditional furniture pieces that will never go out of style. However, I do not like an overload of the senses. That means I will not pair ornate with ornate. Too much detail on every piece in a room is overwhelming. It also feels like you just walked into your Great Aunt Myrna's house. Keep that French chair, but add a modern pillow instead of a fringed one. You can see below I did this with my foyer bench. I even added an abstract art piece above it. Keep your sense of style, but update it with your favorite current accessories.

Brass Has Been Back, But Too Much is Not a Good Thing

We all know that brass and everything gold is back. The only problem is I am seeing way too much of it. Use it sparingly. I recently noticed a room makeover that was pretty, but every single fixture had a gold tone to it. It was way too overpowering. Mix your metals or try to use a little less sparkle. I have to admit I am drawn to everything sparkly myself when I'm out shopping. I have made a promise to myself that I am not bringing any more of it home. I have made huge sighs as I put back another mirrored tray or gold vase on the shelf. Check my coffee table above to see how it's gotten out of control. I would not be surprised to see less glam overall. I've already noticed a return of natural elements and boho. I really believe it's a response to gold metal mania.

(No picture here because that would just be mean).  ;)


Mid-Century Modern and Boho

As I mentioned above I am seeing a return of more natural elements. This can go really wrong in a hot second. There's a fine line between a modern interpretation of the good things from these eras and The Brady Bunch house.

Here it is done right.

Dark, Moody Rooms

I know I just finished telling you that light and bright is still in. It is! I do think there are specific rooms we want to be cozy. I went this route in my husband's study. It's still unfinished, but you get the idea. Gray will still continue to be in, but not as the only color in the room. Pairing it with with the brown rug gives it depth.

There will also be colorful artwork behind the desk when it comes in. I will be bringing out the green in other accessories. This is my quick mock-up using the Pic Collage app on my phone. I do this is all the time to see how something will look in a room. It only takes about a minute, which is great when you're standing in the aisle of a store.

It's still gray, but not just gray and white. There's also gold, but it doesn't look like Napoleon's Apartments. You can see the design is more contemporary, but that wainscoting is never going to go out of style! I pretty much just incorporated everything I mentioned previously in this one room with the exception of boho/mid-century modern and farmhouse. That's just honestly not my style unless I were to move to Palm Springs or an actual farmhouse. I would happily move to Palm Springs! I just pictured myself lounging by the pool in a Trina Turk wardrobe.

Sorry, I got off track.



What Home Trends I Would Like to See?

Art

I am pretty much art obsessed these days. It is something personal and sets your home apart from everyone else, yet I rarely see it in most homes. I don't care what people choose as long as it something they love and not chosen from the aisle at Target because it fits the size of their wall. Scale and color are important, but not the only thing to consider. I will not be buying original art any time soon because of the cost. Yes, I can buy original art in my budget, but frankly it's not very good. I would much rather have a giclee that I love than bragging rights over an original art piece that doesn't interest me. I almost edited those last few sentences out because they sound a little harsh. I just can't seem to word it any other way. It's something I'm passionate about! You've seen the art in my home, but here is one I would really love to own as well.

It's out of my budget, too! I usually buy my art at ZGallerie (when there's a discount of course) or High Fashion Home. HFH does have a website, but the art is 50% off if you visit the store in Houston to purchase or call the store directly.



Architecture

You've heard me mention this for years! Most of the rooms we love, like on Instagram and pin to our boards are not even about the decor. It's about the architecture of a room. I want to see wood ceilings, wood or iron windows and doors (none of the aluminum we have here in Houston), wainscoting, etc. Some of these features are expensive, but some are not. Search my "DIY" label on many of the projects I did in my last house that were very affordable.

har.com

Pre-made Drapery with a Custom Look

I absolutely love custom drapery, but it is very expensive. I could write a separate post about drapes so I'll try and keep it short. You have seen me DIY my own drapes to make them look custom, but it has not been easy. It only works on certain windows as well. 

I would like to see pre-made drapery with pinch pleats. If they came in extra-wide lengths that would even by better! You can buy patio door drapes that are wider, but I've only found them in short lengths. Longer lengths, too! I would also like to see drapes pre-made with trim. I DIY'd mine in the photo above, but wouldn't it be nice if they came this way already?


I think what I would like to see is what many would like as well. It's why DIY blogs are so popular! If manufacturers and builders want to know what will be a hit they only have to turn to what people are trying to DIY. We do it because the product is not available or too expensive. I was ultra-opinionated today, and now I'd love to hear what you think!

New Living Room Lamps

The living room update continues! It really is a mini update with small changes, but they make such an impact all together. I just received these faux marble lamps from Overstock a few days ago. I've eyed these for a while, but was wary of the quality. I realized if I waited around for my budget to catch up to my taste this living room was never going to come together. I have to admit when I took them out of the box I was skeptical over the extremely shiny brass. I kept looking at my Pottery Barn gold lamps (the ones with the gray shades) and could not help but notice the difference in quality. As soon as I set them up on my media console all of my doubts went away. They just blend so nicely! You would never know how inexpensive they really were. They are a bit more contemporary than what you usually see from me, but they still go with the traditional elements in the room. I love this mix of traditional French and contemporary for this house. It just fits!

The fiddle leaf tree in the corner is new, but I am still scouting for a taller one. Those plate covers where the surround sound pre-wire drives me crazy. A taller tree would definitely cover the one on the left.

Here's a closer look.

I also painted the frames on this artwork a champagne color. They were a bright silver before. I had hoped some of the silver would shine through since I don't want everything gold, but it looked streaky with a light brushing. I ended up using three coats of paint, which covered the entire frame in a dark gold color. I am considering sponging on a bit of silver so it looks more like my mirror over the fireplace. I am still on the fence about it (mainly because I just don't want to do it lol). We'll see if it continues to bother me. 

Here is the before with different art above the TV and random accessories on the media unit. Hopefully, the new fiddle leaf doesn't meet the same fate as the one next to the fireplace. This picture was also taken before we added the window trim. The bamboo shades helped block the sun, but definitely do not go in this room any longer. The black console has been moved to the breakfast room (aka the land of leftover furniture).

After

Decorating around a TV is always difficult, but it's especially hard when you have a bare 20 foot wall with zero architecture. A collage of paintings/photos around the TV also works, but I decided to style it as I would any other console. Ideally, I would like a very tall custom media center with doors to cover the TV down the road. Until that day comes this works for now!

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Living Room Update: More Artwork

My living room update is chugging along! I hung up the artwork over the TV, and I just love the way it looks. They add so much interest to this wall. The silver frames still need to be painted a champagne/gold color. I bought the paint so I'm thinking I will have it completed some time in the next week. I considered starting it tonight, but I'm sitting in front of the fire with a glass of wine. I need brighter light and no alcohol so I don't get paint on the glass!

I'm still working on accessories for the fireplace, media center and black end table. What I'm really struggling with is the pillows. I have so many options pinned, but I just can't decide! Hopefully, I will decide soon since they will take a while to ship out because they are custom made.

This living room update spurred a master bedroom update. There's a post coming soon! We're also getting quotes for the home office wallpaper and the back porch balcony railing, too. Did I mention I'm also in the middle of planning a big party? Yes, it's a crazy time!

Living Room Update Progress

You're probably wondering what living room update? It was not on my to do list until last week. I've been working on my home office, but that is on hold as I wait for a wallpaper installer to call me back. I was told there is a shortage of installers. I suppose that makes sense because it went out of style in the 90s and has come back so quickly the past couple of years. I decided to turn my attention to a couple of home projects that need to be completed before summer as I wait. 

One of those projects is drapes for my living room windows. Our west facing living room gets flooded with bright light on summer afternoons. The drapes for my tall and wide windows will have to be custom made to function properly. The previous bamboo shades did not cover the top transoms, and it didn't quite go with the look of the room.

I could put them back up temporarily, but then it would cause holes that would need to be repaired in the new window trim. Besides the functionality, drapes on each end of the windows would help soften the wall. It just feels so bare since the Christmas tree came down. Those chairs need some color, too. Good grief, these January pictures are depressing!

Custom drapes will be expensive, and I do not want to have to replace them with future home decor changes. I had already been considering changing up my living room so I decided to go ahead with it before adding the drapes. It will be a small update of just adding a bit of blue to the already cream and gray color scheme. That means the high contrast black and white abstract has to be moved to another room to make way for a softer look. 

I didn't want to add too much blue because I want the option of adding different colors in the future. The gray will not be going anywhere. It's in my media center and my kitchen island. I'm happily stuck with gray! I've heard it is on it's way out, but I don't believe that for a second. I do think you may see it blended with other colors instead of just gray and white/cream. However, that is just my prediction. Or maybe it's because I am tiring of my ultra-neutral room? It needs some life! Actually, in real life it isn't quite this washed out. This is really just a result of using my iPhone to take pictures. These are probably the worst pictures I have, but it shows you what I'm talking about. I have to brighten up the photos, which tends to white out everything. Regardless, I'm ready for a softer and more colorful look. Maybe I'll start bringing out my Nikon when I photograph this room, too!

The first thing I did was remove the small pictures from above my TV and not put the black sofa table back after Christmas.

I have always been frustrated with this view of the TV. I'd love to have a very tall built-in media center with doors covering the TV, but that is way down the line in priority so I decided to add larger artwork with a bit more interest/color. My foyer art is perfect!

It has blue, gray and tan/caramel in it. It's also part of a series so I picked up it's companion and hung it above the TV. I haven't taken a picture yet because they are hanging by the previous nails and need to be moved. I'm also painting the silver frame a champagne gold color to go with the living room decor. The blue color is small enough that I can choose to bring out the blue or ignore it if I go in a different direction in the future. 

I love abstract art, but for the big wall I decided on something a bit more like a landscape so they weren't competing with each other. I also decided it should not have blue in it to keep it to a minimum in the decor I won't be changing for a while. I knew instantly the painting that would be perfect. That's the benefit of keeping on top of new items to the market. It makes decorating a room much easier!

I just love this abstract landscape! The best part is I didn't have to move the nails. It's exactly the same size as my old art. The leopard pillows are temporary. I just moved them from the media room until I buy new pillows. 

I added a bit of color albeit gray to the chairs in front of the window. Oh, you can see the art above the TV in this picture!

You might notice I'm also moving around the accessories on the fireplace, media center and tables. I only need a few things and I'm pretty sure they will be picked up at Homegoods for a low cost update. The art and drapes will be the only high cost in this room, but I did get the art 50% off (order via phone or in-store for the discount). I'm ordering custom pillows for the sofa, but thankfully they aren't that expensive on Etsy. I haven't quite decided if I'm going to keep the pillows on these chairs. It depends on the color combo I come up with for the sofa. I just love the direction it's going so far. The colors are still muted to keep a serene feel but contrast better for more interest. I love to add pops of color in the florals or a couple of accessories. I can't quite do a blush color in a pillow with four men in the house, but I can add pink florals without it looking to feminine.  

This week (and probably next week too) I will be deciding on pillows, painting the silver art frames and looking for accessories. I'm hoping the drapes will be decided on as soon as I get samples and quotes. I decided on a solid cream color and possibly a gray tape trim on the leading edges for a look that will last years. I'm hoping I can wrap up this project and the office in the next 4-6 weeks, but if it lasts longer that's fine too. As long as I get my drapes by summer I'll be happy!

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