Top Seven for Spring Series - Lori May Interiors

I can totally relate to my next guest, Lori of Lori May Interiors.  She is a fellow Southern and her sense of style is impeccable.  I just recently discovered Lori through a blog series we both participated in for The Mustard Ceiling.  I was so drawn in to a post she did on painting a campaign chest that I got up the morning of the reveal before my alarm went off just to see it.  I know, some people do this for the royal wedding, I choose to do it for a good DIY project!!!  Can't wait to hear your Spring picks, Lori . . . 

Hi all, I'm so happy to be here with you today. Mandi and I are new blogging friends and I love her style. Her fresh take on Southern tradition is right down my alley. Being a Southern girl myself, spring is already in full swing here in Atlanta. Mandi asked me to share 7 of my favorite spring things with you today. My list is part sentiment and part must haves. Enjoy!

1) Memories As I wrote this post, I realized that many of my favorite spring things come from memories of my childhood. Spring meant watching as the flowers sprouted, the grass turned green and the trees burst open with blooms. It also meant new Easter dresses and bright white shoes. I hope you don't mind joining me on this short walk down memory lane...

2) Strawberries How can you not love strawberries in the spring? Yes, I know you can get them all year round now, but nothing beats a ripe strawberry in season. I used to pick strawberries with my great-grandmother in her garden behind our house. I recall vividly how she taught me which ones to pick and which ones to leave. I'm pretty sure I ate more than I put in my basket, but she never seemed to mind.

3) Hyacinths My great-grandmother also grew hyacinths. You don't see them planted much anymore, but I sometimes come across them at the grocery store. The fragrance always reminds me of her. I think I'll buy some this year and plant them in my yard. What a wonderful surprise I'll have next spring!

4) Cherry trees These are the cherry trees behind my parent's house in TN. When the blooms begin to fall each spring, it looks like snow.

Aren't they beautiful? My husband took these photos several years ago.

I know that because he took these photos of my oldest who is almost 9 now on that same day. She loved all of those blossoms falling around her. She would try and pick up each one.

One of my favorite photos of all time...



Now, let's switch gears, on to some of my favorite things about spring interiors.

5) Pillows Spring gives us a reason to change out the darker colors of winter to a lighter, brighter palette. These are all from one of my favorite Etsy shops. Adding new pillows can change the feel of your whole room.

6) New tabletop patterns I love this new dinnerware pattern from Williams Sonoma. The colors are perfect for spring. Can't you see my Easter table with a white table cloth, citrine napkins and these beautiful plates?

7) My last favorite spring thing is all of the new introductions by my favorite shops. Here are a few that I've seen this week. This one is from Restoration Hardware. I know I can't be the only one whose happy with RH's addition of blue to their new spring line.

Wisteria's beautiful shades of green.

Serena and Lily's take on spring is unmatched.

I hope you've enjoyed a few of my favorite spring things. Maybe my favorites have given you a few ideas for your own home.

Thank you for having me Mandi!

Top Seven for Spring Series - Rachel of Just a Touch of Gray

Today you're in for a treat!  I have Rachel of Just a Touch of Gray here sharing her top favs for Spring. I connected with Rachel about a year and a half ago through a mutual friend here in Birmingham.  I was hosting a dinner party for my husband's firm; and one of the wives started talking about a friend of hers who had just started a blog.  Of course, my ears perked up at the mention of a new blog, and the rest as they say was history.  I have learned so much from Rachel's posts on high end DIY projects.  It seems as though she and hubs are constantly making changes over there!!  Rachel, fill us in on your favs for Spring! 

Hello Interior Design Musings readers! Being here brings back some memories since I actually did {my very first guest post} right here last summer soon after I started {Just a Touch of Gray}. So I'm thrilled to be back! :) While Mandi and her fam are enjoying their Spring Break together I'm here to show you my...

TOP SEVEN FAVS FOR SPRING

Mandi gave no limitations for this broad title, but I'm sticking to my roots and going with interiors.  When I think about spring, pastel colors are one of the first things that come to mind. So today I'm sharing my... 

TOP SEVEN ROOMS DECKED OUT IN PASTELS

Ok maybe I just have Easter candy on my mind, but that's beside the point. 

Pastel color can be defined as:



A soft delicate hue; a pale color

If my husband were reading over my shoulder he'd probably be afraid I'm scheming up some pale pink masterpiece design board for our front living room. But fear not, pastels don't necessarily have to be girly if used in small doses. 

Now let's have a little pastel-by-room fun... 

1. Pastels in the BATHROOM

Brian Andriola

This is such a pretty bathroom decked out in robin egg blue. The brown accents (door and table) are right on. And how cute is that koi fish vase!? 

2. Pastels in the KITCHEN

Bonesteel Trout Hall

Those cheerful patterned valences are adorable in this small space. I spy a glimpse of a bench and pillows too! I love when fabrics are incorporated into kitchens. Looks like the perfect space to sit and chat about springtime festivities! 

3. Pastels in the LIVING ROOM

Nate Berkus does it again.

You may think this one is a bit of a stretch, but I did tell you pastels don't always have to be girly.  This pair of pale yellow crushed velvet ottomans are just the hint of pastel color that gives this masculine living room a softer feel. 

4. Pastels in the MASTER BEDROOM

 Philadelphia general contractor: Dewson Construction Company

Who cares about the interiors when you have a view like THAT!? Give me those floors, windows, ceiling, and expansive ocean view and I'll give you all pastel colors you want! 

5. Pastels in the GUEST BEDROOM

Coddington Design

I could make myself right at home in this soft green guest room. Green is my favorite color, but there is much more that draws me to this space. I love the tone on tone drapes, the plaid bedskirt, and lacquer nightstand. It's genius they carried the wall color onto the ceiling. It gives the space such a cozy feel.

6. Pastels in the KIDS BEDROOM

Robyn Karp

This room looks fit for a princess. I can picture a little cutie snuggled up in bed while her parents sit on the pastel pink settee reading a bedtime story... feet propped up on the furry pouf and all! 

7. Pastels in the SUNROOM

{via}

Ok, now let's get serious. Springtime is all about soaking up the warm weather after a long, cold winter. If this sunroom set up for entertaining wouldn't get you in the mood for spring I don't know what would. What a dream it would be to have a yummy meal, glass of wine, and friends around the table with all those windows cracked open to let in the warm breeze. 

So there you have it...

 Pastel colors in all the rooms in honor of SPRINGTIME! 

If you're one to decorate for the seasons I hope you'll think about including some pastel colors in your spring look! And if your rooms are already adorned with these soft colors well now we can enjoy them that much more now that it's SPRING! 

Hope you all have a great week! I invite you to come visit me over at {Just a Touch of Gray}! 

Thanks for having me, Mandi! Enjoy your Spring Break! 

Top Seven for Spring Series - Jessie of Mix and Chic

We are kicking off this series with the fabulous Jessie of Mix and Chic.  I think I was one of Jessie's first one hundred followers on google.  I remember thinking, "this girl's got it going on!"  She has taken the blog world by storm.  In fact, her brilliant style managed to land her a feature article in one of my favorite online magazines House of Fifty during it's first year.  With that, Jessie take it away! 

Hi everyone, I am Jessie, the author of Mix And Chic blog. I enjoy blogging about stylish interiors, cool home decor products and everything interior design related. I was thrilled when Mandi asked me to write a guest post for her lovely blog.

Today, I will be sharing my 'Top Seven Favorites For Spring', my favorite decor pieces to freshen up your space to welcome spring! When I think of spring, I think of bright happy colors, nature, pretty flowers and green grass. Naturally, all my picks are very floral inspired.   

#1. This pretty decorative pillow with a vintage feel. It's so crisp and versatile, it works great on a sofa, an occasional chair or on the bed.

Designers Guild

#2.  Romantic and feminine, this charming rug will work well in a country cottage or a contemporary home with an eclectic touch.

The Rugs

#3. The colors and the embroidery details on this lamp shade is absolutely beautiful and will jazz up a living room or a reading nook.

Anthropologie

#4.  This fun and whimsical curtain is perfect in a girl's bedroom!

Urban Outfitters

#5. This delightful Asian inspired fabric with tree blossoms, birds and butterflies will work wonderfully as decorative pillows or curtains for a touch of whimsy.

Designers Guild

#6. This gorgeous organic duvet cover and sham will instantly updates a room with its brilliant color palette. 

Pottery Barn

#7. This iconic Mademoiselle upholstered armchair designed by Phillipe Starck is absolutely stylish, perfect for a modern dining room or as an occasional chair in the living room.

YLiving

via

I hope you like my spring inspired selections. These are some of my favorite spring decor pieces, which one is yours? 

This blog post was so much fun to put together! Thanks Mandi for having me over! 

Spring Break Guest Blogging Series

Finally!!! It's time for a much needed break to enjoy all this beautiful Spring weather.  To celebrate, I'm hosting a Guest Blogging series all next week.

While I'm enjoying some quality time with my peeps on their Spring Break, I've asked seven amazing bloggers to share their top seven favorites for Spring with you (one for every day of the week)!  Who knows, you may discover some fabulous finds you simply can't live without for the season.  Get ready to be dazzled!  See you bright and early Monday morning. Have a great weekend! M.

Liming Wax Tutorial

Thank you for all the sweet comments on the dining room before and after post!  It has been so fun reading all of them (especially for my clients who are thrilled with your response).  So, I promised to show you how they limed the table.  Honestly, it's amazing that with a few steps you can take a table from this . . .

To this . . .

source


It does take some elbow grease and attention to detail, but the results are so worth it.  Here's the process.

Step One

In a well ventilated area, sand the entire piece to remove any vanish or lacquer.  This couple wanted some of the original color to show through so they did not sand to bare wood.  I think this added to the patina of the finished piece.  

Also remember, the liming wax will look different depending on the tone of your wood.  So, you'll need to experiment with it a bit.  I actually tried the liming wax on our mantle after staining it and did not like the look, so we went back to a simple stain.  (Here's that post for reference). A simple way to do this is to sand and lime a section that is not visible (aka, underneath the table) before going to all the trouble to do the entire piece. 

Step Two
After sanding, wipe the entire piece down with the tack cloth to ensure there is no residue on the surface.  You want the wax to go on as evenly as possible.

Step Three
Using steel wool, apply the wax to the table in a circular motion.  This will ensure the wax clings to the grain of the wood creating the perfect effect.  The goal is to get this stuff down into the crevasses of the wood.

Remember you need to be liberal with it.


The more you apply the greater the contrast in the grain of the wood.  Notice the cute hubby applying the wax!

Here is a shot of the table after you've applied the liming wax.  You do need to let this sit overnight to dry thoroughly.

Step Four
The next day, apply a clear wax over the entire piece.  This will act as a seal and protect the piece.

Wax On . . . Wax Off . . . (sorry, I couldn't resist).

I should mention since this piece has not be coated with a varnish that the wood is still "open" so you may get water marks, etc. from daily use.  But, honestly, I think this adds to the character of a piece like this.

And the results . . . 

A big thanks to my clients for all these great pictures of the process.  I hope you'll find something to try this technique on in your own home! M.