In the Tweeds: Budget Decorating Ideas

Hi All,

Today's post is from Leila! She is one of my super sweet readers that also has quite the stylish blog! She came up with some great tips for decorating on a budget! I'm so impressed with images and ideas!

Enjoy,

Camila
__________________________________________________

Thanks SO much to Camila for having me as a guest blogger! I've read High-Heeled Foot in the Door for quite some time now, and am always impressed by her inexpensive finds, crazy amazing makeovers (like the turquoise, navy and yellow guest room awesomeness), and DIY genius (hello Oomph tables!). Though not as frequent a poster as I'd like to be, I write a blog called In the Tweeds. It's my little space in the blogosphere where I share about our just-started renovation of a 1920s house in M'ssippi, some DIY, and general design ramblings. I reallyreallyreally want to take the headlong jump into becoming an interior designer like Camila has...maybe some day!

Camila asked me to share 5 things under $25 to spruce up your home...so here goes!



Flowers can add instant color and spunk to any room of the house. From your garden (free!) or from the grocery store (from $2.99 - $15.99 a bunch), they're such an inexpensive way to totally change a space and put a smile on your face every time you walk in the room! And, with frequent cuttings, they can last up to 2 weeks. My absolute favorites are peonies and hydrangeas.

[flower images from Flikr user Cindysprins]



If you're tired of your kitchen cabinets, bedroom furniture, or some pieces in your living or dining room, one of the easiest, tidiest, and most inexpensive ways to make a change is simply to swap out the knobs and pulls! Some of my very favorite sources are Home Depot (for the basics and for the cheaper version of lucite/crystal looks), Anthropologie (for the colorful/funky versions), Restoration Hardware (for classic knobs & pulls), Paxton Hardware (for reproduction pieces), Sun Valley Bronze (for substantial, unique items), and Van Dyke's (for antique reproductions). At anywhere between $2-15 per knob or pull, you can turn a ho-hum piece of furniture into something really special.



Another sub-$25 way to liven up your space is to find dishes and trays. You can use them on an entry console to catch keys when you walk in the door, on a coffee table or bookshelf to house memorabilia (like matchbooks or wine corks from a special night, or ticket stubs or seashells from a vacation. Fun dishes and trays can be found anywhere and everywhere: Tar-jay (like those super cute Liberty of London trays in stores right now), Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, World Market, and the like. Make sure to check the bath aisle too (especially at Anthro), because some soap trays are super cute and could totally be used in a living room. You can always find vintage dishes and trays (think colored depression glass, china dessert plates, milk glass, and old brass items) well below $25 at flea markets, antique stores, eBay, and etsy!




Adding art to your walls is another easy and inexpensive way to spice up your home. There are tons of ways to do this... (1) Swap out pictures or prints from existing frames with free printable art, like from Vintage Printable or the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery. (2) Buy a calendar, cut out the pages, and frame them in a grid above a sofa or on a blank wall. IKEA has the best, cheapest frames, perfect for arranging in a grid. And remember many places have killer calendar sales the end of January! (3) Buy an art canvas from an art store and let your inner artist out! Try to copy a piece of abstract art you love, or paint your own image. (4) Buy an few art canvases and wrap them in a favorite fabric remnant from a fabric store or online retailer. Hang them in a row and it's instant wall interest. (5) Buy cheap vintage frames from a thrift store, spray paint them all the same color, and hang the frames - empty - as a gallery wall. There are so many inexpensive ways to add life to your walls - just get creative!




(I bet Camila was just waiting to see this one since she's the master of the paint transformation!) Paint is hands down the least expensive but best way to spruce up your house. Armed with a gallon of paint and a free afternoon, you can freshen up a thrift store find or something found in grandma's attic...or change the color of a room...or subtly change it by painting tonal horizontal stripes or using a stencil.

[stencil from Sunny Goodtime Paints]

Thanks for reading, and thanks again to Camila for having me by!

Midwest Modern: Framed

Hi All,

Today's post is from a blogger that was actually a friend first! Liz is the writer behind Midwest Modern. She is one of the most stylish people I know. I seriously would die to have 5 mins in her closet and grab as much as I could! I hope you enjoy her post!

xo,

Camila
___________________________________________________

When I moved this month everyone who came over to my new place or saw pictures said "you already have so much hung on the walls!" and I realized its because it's what immediately makes me feel at home. Putting pretty much anything in a frame makes it interesting and meaningful (well, to a certain extent.) I think it was working with a framing company here in Boston (Stanhope Framers) last year that really made me appreciate it.

Whether it's a gallery wall or just a single picture hanging something up can instantly change the feeling of a room. There are 2 obvious ways to go about framing anything - custom or store bought - and 2 obvious price differences! That being said, I think that deciding which one to go with depends completely on the situation. Custom framing makes an amazing gift that will last forever and most of the time is something that a person wouldn't buy for themselves. This year 2 of my Christmas gifts were custom framed pictures.

This one is of the Franklin Park Conservatory for my mom because that's where she works, and this was such a beautiful photograph. It was in the New York Times this year so after some digging I tracked down the photographer, Greg Sailor, and was able to purchase it directly from him.

This one is the reception card and a picture from my sister, Katherine, and her husband, Peter's, wedding which I gave to them this year for the Christmas following their wedding. Both pieces were beautifully and expertly framed by Stanhope Framers.

Since these were both very special pieces and were gifts I was willing to splurge fo the custom framing and think it was absolutely worth it. However, when doing things for my own apartment I do store-bought frames usually from Home Goods or Ikea for a couple reasons. Obviously because they are more affordable, but also because it allows me to change what's in the frames as often as I want. Here's a good example of mixing custom framing and store-bought.

The tall skinny piece is a print series of a whale's tale that my sister did in high school, the small picture is of my dog and framed in one of a ten pack of frames form Urban Outfitters, and the top is a photo of my family in our living room before my sister's wedding in a Pottery Barn frame. I love these two especially because they are very meaningful to me and the only cost was buying the frames - both of which are from Ikea.

This is a letter my grandfather wrote to me when I was born that my parents kept. The frame was super cheap at Ikea (a 4 pack of the 4x6's is $0.99!) and I like the kind of unfinished industrial look it has especially with the letterhead on the stationery. It's also a great way to break up a gallery wall of all pictures.

This is from an old wine diary my parents used to keep that would record where and who they had dinner with or what they were celebrating etc. which I love because this page specifically is all about time spent with my family - aunts, uncles, grandparents. So these 2 pieces were just sitting in boxes in my basement at home, cost nothing, and become instantly important and interesting by just putting them in a frame!

La Dolce Vita's Favorite Paint Color

Hi All,

We all know and love Paloma. She has such a stylish outlook on decor that I knew I needed to get her to guest blog. Today she is sharing with us one of her favorite paint colors! I got to say it's a favorite of mine as well. I've used in a clients home and have something similar in my own living room!

xo,

Camila

____________________________________________________

Hello, High-Heeled readers! I am happy to be filling in today while Camila enjoys her family getaway in Colombia. I hope they are having a fabulous time!

I know that many of us are perpetually on the hunt for the perfect paint color. It turns out that I am currently obsessed with one that I recently found. For the longest time, I have been faithful to Benjamin Moore paints. However, a couple of months ago, my husband and I decided to paint the tan walls in our formal living room and dining room a darker chocolate color. We tried several colors but some had too much green in them, others had too much of a mauvey quality. Then, on a trip to Home Depot, we stumbled upon BEHR’s new Premium Plus Line and decided on “Aging Barrel” which is the perfect mocha shade. It isn’t too dark, but has a deep, rich quality to it. The paint has the primer built into it, so we were able to save time by cutting a step out of the paint process.

{Tate loves the new color!}

The paint has great coverage and we only had to apply two coats. I posted pictures of the new color on La Dolce Vita back in March and it was a big hit! I have received so many compliments on the color and have even had friends and readers let me know that they decided to use it in their homes. I would highly recommend this beautiful, versatile shade to anyone who wants to add a little color to their walls.

Image Credit: Paloma Contreras for La Dolce Vita

Plush Palate: $25 and under stylish finds

Hi All,

 

Crystal has to be one of the sweetest people I know. I always love seeing her name pop up in my in box, because I know it’s going to be filled with good & happy thoughts and ideas!

 

Enjoy!

Camila

 

Hi everyone, I'm Crystal and I blog over at Plush Palate. I'm thrilled to be here today and help fill in for Camila while she's away!

 

She asked that I share some of my favorite ways to spruce up my home for under $25. In thinking about this post, it became clear to me that what I really love about bringing a home from blah to fab is adding those little finishing touches that make all the difference in the end. After all, we all know, design is in the details!

 

 

For those little details, Anthropologie is my go-to store. So, I decided to do a little round up of my favorite hardware selections from the shop, all of which can be found for $25 and under (and in just a few cases, slightly over). After all the big ticket items have been purchased and placed, next comes the fun part - adorning the space with details, or what I like to think of the jewelry of the room.

 

 

From hooks, to knobs, to finials, the styles and colors are endless! So next time you have a little spare cash on your hands and want to touch up your space, try switching out your existing hardware and replacing it with some of these to add instant decorative details and a 'jewelry' to your space!!

 

Emily A Clark's $25 and under stylish finds

Hi Emily,

Is a more recent friend that I wanted to share with you. Her is full of design inspiration. I love seeing all the projects that she works on in her own home along with client inspiration boards.

Enjoy,

Camila
____________________________________________________

I'm so happy to be guest blogging for Camila while she's away, and even happier to be sharing my favorite ways to spruce up your home for under $25 (being that I live for great bargains!). Here are my best tips:

#1. Tall curtain panels from IKEA: The quickest, and cheapest, way to add instant drama to your room. I love that these come in the longer lengths and are only $19.99 for the pair. (Target now carries a similar style for around $25.) I hung them several inches above my living room windows and layered them over bamboo shades for privacy.

#2. Monograms: An instant way to make anything in your home look more expensive. Most pillows, blanket, towels, etc., can be monogrammed for less than $25 to create a classic look.

#3. Frame Pretty Notecards: If your budget doesn't allow for pricey art, there are some beautiful varieties of notecards out there just waiting to be framed. I like to search Etsy for sets, and even found some beautiful architectural ones in the clearance aisle of HomeGoods the other day! I recently framed these bird cards for my bedroom, using black utility frames from Michaels that come in packs of 2 for $7:

#4. Fresh Flowers and Greenery: Add life to your space with fresh flowers, or for a longer lasting arrangement, use potted greenery. I added a small flowering topiary and fern to my breakfast area (both for less than $15 each!):

#5. Rearrange Your Space!: My last tip is absolutely free and yet sometimes has the biggest impact in changing the look of your room. If your sofa is up against a wall, pull it out to the middle of the room and see what happens. Try placing your bed in front of a window to create an instant focal point. Don't be afraid to change what you've had in place for years. It won't hurt to try, and you might actually like it :)

Photo courtesy of McGill Design Group via DecorPad

Pancakes & French Fries: Before & After

Hi All,

Jules was one of the very first blogs I stumbled upon before I even had a blog. Since one click lead to another and another, by the end of the week I had completely forgotten the URL for her blog. Once I had my own blog set up and went through clicking on one blog after another I found Jules again. Yay! I hope you enjoy her writing style as much as I do.

xo,

Camila
_________________________________________________________

Hello! My name is Jules and I author the blog Pancakes and French Fries, a blog about life (sweet and savory) as an ex-attorney turned suburban stay at home mom. In other words, you probably don't know me from Adam. I don't write about design except to point out how hard I think design bloggers work, which is something I realized after spending two days trying to cobble together a simple mood board. Never again.

Of course, I'm not all thumbs when it comes to design. Thanks to a Google reader full of creative and inspiring design blogs, I have been able to pull off a room or two (literally. two.) in my home that don't look atrocious. The room Camila asked me to talk to you about today is my kitchen.

Don't be alarmed. That's the before.

My husband and I have always dreamed of buying a fixer-upper and making it ours. We love everything about older homes, down to the bizarre things you find inside the walls. When we bought the house we are in now (a 1958 red brick ranch in southern California) I was practicing as an attorney. Financially, things were good.

So we bought this house and set our eyes on the kitchen. We picked out nice finishes (that we could afford) and set to work. We had one small hiccup. In the middle of the remodel I quit my job to become a stay at home mom. (I talk more about that here, if you are curious.) It's a decision I have never regretted, but it did put a crimp in the budget. We still had the cabinets, flooring, windows, appliances, and back splash to do (an entire kitchen!) and the items we picked before wouldn't work with our new budget. And, since everything was already demoed, there was no turning back, either.

After.

I spent over a week researching cabinets and found a vendor online for cabinets that cost 1/4 of what we were going to spend before. I'd share the vendor but they went out of business last year. It was about the cost of IKEA cabinets. Installation was as much as the cabinets, so if you can DIY this part you will save a considerable amount and open your budget to things like, oh, flooring.

My flooring? VCT tile, the same floors you walk on at Target, Walmart, and the supermarket. The kitchen and laundry room cost about $100, installed. (I decided to forgo the shiny finish that makes clean up easier. We just don't get as much foot traffic as Walmart.)

The back splash we held off on for almost four years. It had to be very inexpensive, but something I would enjoy. If I have learned anything in the last four years, it's that buying (or DIYing) something just because it's inexpensive and fills up space costs more in the long run. It's better to just wait until inspiration (or money) hits you.

For me, inspiration hit while my husband was on a business trip. I have boxes and boxes of old family pictures collecting dust. One day I was thumbing through them when I realized that I was, potentially, looking at my future back splash. I went to Home Depot, bought a quart of my favorite Ralph Lauren paint in Polo Green, 10 IKEA Ribba frames, and got to work.

In one day I had what I think is a beautiful back splash that celebrates family and history, all for less than $50.

There is still much to do. The windows, trim, window treatments, baseboards...the list is endless. But, I have learned that we have time. I have also learned a valuable lesson in all this.

When we bought the house and started the renovation, we wanted the best of everything. I pored over design magazines (I had no idea blogs existed back then) and took note of what was the latest and greatest. This was going to be the best! kitchen! ever! Our biggest ticket item, purchased before I quit, was our soapstone counters. We probably spent more on that than the rest of the kitchen! And you know what everyone notices first? You know what everyone cites as their favorite part of our kitchen?

The $100 floor and the $50 back splash.

And that's what I love about High Heeled Foot in the Door. Camila proves day in and day out that you don't need bags of money to create a room worth living in.

Have a wonderful trip with your family, Camila! ¡Que te vaya bien!

Centsational Girl's Favorite Etsy Shops!

Hi All,

Hope you enjoy today's guest blogger! It's from one of my favorite ladies that rules when it comes to DIY! I'm constantly amazing by all the cool things that she makes.

xo,

Camila
_____________________________________________________

G’day everyone ! It’s Kate from Centsational Girl here – blog sitting for Camila while she’s away. She’s on strict orders to relax, have a grand holiday, and have several cocktails on me !

Like many of you, I’m an Etsy addict ! I love to go shopping for great finds that are handmade by creative artists or small companies. It’s my way of supporting small businesses instead of big box (not that I don’t shop Tar-jay and Ikea, love them!)

Here are ten of my picks from Etsy – all decor for under $50 dollars and each offers just that little personalized punch of pizzazz for your home !

Chalkboard wall decal from Elephannie, don’t you love it’s ornate edges and perfect proportions for a door ?




This doily clock is the perfect marriage of vintage style and modern graphic, available at And Furthermore.




Original charcoal and watercolor dress paintings by Lauren Maurer. I love these for a vanity, dressing area or closet, or any space you want to add feminine flair !





Vintage wood crates are available at The Fancy Lamb, your perfect nostalgic display or storage solution !





Burlap and grain sack pillows by Heidi Devlin Designs for that European country feel.



This ceramic berry bowl by Brookhouse Pottery goes from sink to table. I imagine my farmer’s market blueberries in it. It’s perfect for rinsing and serving summer fruits !




Speaking of blue, I’ll take two of these lantern trellis pillows please, available in several other patterns and colors at Nena Von.





How about this turquoise woven plate by BPR designs ? This waffle dish is de-lish and makes a stunning statement on a coffee table, what a perfect pop of fresh color.




Add a dash of panache to your desktop with these paperweights from The Shabby Chic Cottage.





Bring your love for the outdoors in with these love birds on branches, available at Styley Walls.




Thanks so much Camila for letting me takeover your blog for a day, hope you are having a blast and we can’t wait to hear all about your adventures south of the border !

xoxo

Kate

Everything LEB’s $25 and under stylish finds

Hi All,

 

Today’s guest blogger is Linds from Everything LEB. She is a great friend, number one cheerleader, sweet as can be and crafty and design savvy like Martha. I heart her and I know you will too!

 

xo,

Camila

______________________________

Hello everyone! 

 

Thank you for welcoming me over here on Camila’s blog today.  While she is off in Colombia enjoying her vacation, I shall keep you entertained for the day. 

 

When she first asked for guest bloggers I just knew I had to help out one of my very first blog friends.  While we have never met in person, I hope to one day very soon as we don’t live too far away from each other.

 

OK, so the topic Camila came up with was “5 deals under $25 to spruce up your home” and I decided to take the idea and twist it a bit.  While my items may not be cute home accessories, they are items that will certainly spruce up your home by organizing it. 

 

Here are my 5 deals under $25 that will organize AND spruce up your home:

 

Glass Jars:

Glass jars are so useful and can be used in just about every room in your home.  These Anchor Hocking ones from Amazon are only $9.99 each- meaning for $25 you can get 2 ½ of them!

 

Some ideas for these are:

 

-In the kitchen to keep sugar, flour and just about anything else you want to store large quantities of. 

-In the bathroom to keep bars of soap, cotton pads or even powdered bubble bath. 

-In the family room to keep kids toys organized- wooden blocks would be so pretty in these jars (ok even legos would look better in glass jars then all over the floor). 

-In your closet to keep scarves, headbands, belts, basically anything small that you want to see. 

-In a craft room for markers, paint, paint brushes, ribbon, scraps of paper, or bobbins of thread.

 

OK, you get the idea these can be used EVERYWHERE.

 

Plastic Shoe Boxes:

For $25.80 you can get a box of 20 plastic shoe boxes and you might need more after you keep finding more and more ways to use them like I did.

I use these boxes:


-In my closet to keep my shoes neat and dust free (I still need to take photos of my shoes so I can put a picture in the box for super easy finding, yes I know I am anal)


-On my desk/shelf to keep craft supplies neatly organized


And in my in my linen closet to keep toiletries, etc organized.  I have 6 boxes labeled-  RX Meds, Cold/ Pain Meds, First Aid, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, etc., Travel Sized Items, and Make-Up.  They stack neatly and make my once disastrous linen closet organized and pretty.

 

Wire baskets:

These ones run $12.95 - $15.95, well within the range of under $25.  I love these and even though I don’t have any yet I am planning on getting a bunch to further organize my linen closet and pantry in the kitchen.

 

They would be perfect to keep extra rolls of toilet paper, hand towels, sheet sets, all those random bags of food in the pantry, bottles of soda water, cans and again the list can go on and on.

 

Label Maker:

This one will set you back $19.99 and you will for sure get your money’s worth over and over again.  I don’t need to explain all the uses for this or tell you that I use it about once a day to make pretty little labels for everything.  If I’m not careful I might find myself labeling my fiancé, the couch or other ridiculous things. 

 

In the photo below you can see all my organized craft items in labeled plastic shoe boxes.

Beware, it is an addicting little tool that for sure will spruce up your home.

 

Knuff Magazine Holders:

If you are a regular reader of Camila’s blog, mine or any design blog for that matter then you are well aware of a bloggers love for magazines.  A pair of these wooden magazine holders are $9.99 and from someone who has about 40 of them in my house, they are priceless!

 

I painted mine white and they are holding all my beloved design magazines that I just cant seem to get rid of.  These spruced up my home and I love them!

 

So there you have my list of 5 items under $25 that will spruce up your home.  Thank you again to Camila for asking me to be a part of her blog for the day.  Actually, at first I did ask if I could come on vacation with her, but I guess guest blogging is a close second.

 

(Photos from: Amazon.com, emersonmade.com, The Container Store, Crate and Barrel, Staples, Ikea, and everythingleb)

Aesthetic Oiseau: Shop Girl

Hi All,

Today post is from one of my newer blogger friends and I'm so happy that I "met" her. I totally feel in love with her blog from the second I laid eyes on it. Hello it was ORANGE! To top it off she shares her name with my little sister so I knew we would be pals right away. I love what Daniela is sharing with you today! I hope you enjoy!

xo,

Camila

___________________________________________________


Hi everyone! I'm Daniela from Aesthetic Oiseau and I'm thrilled to be guest blogging for Camila, one of my own favorite bloggers! Since Camila always gives us the inside scoop on the best finds, I thought I would share with you, her lovely readers, one of my own favorite online shops.

I'm a devotee of bamboo motifs...especially of the brass variety. I have a hand-me-down brass bamboo bar cart in my dining room from my mother-in-law and I think it might be one of my absolute favorite pieces. If you love these chic Chinoiserie pieces as much as I do, you will LOVE the online shop Mermaid Hut.

I think MH is the purveyor of (relatively) affordable brass bamboo goodness...feast your eyes on these lovelies:

In the right space, this would be a gorgeous cocktail/coffee table. I would love to see its height accentuated with a stack of design books...and when the girls are over for a cocktail, the tray-top is removable so you can serve your drinks in style - Golden Bamboo Butler Table/Tray

This piece would be at the top of my list for a mini bar. I love the size and octagonal shape...it would be fab piled up with your favorite bottles, glasses, a decanter and some fresh flowers - Golden Bamboo Two Tier Table

I'd love to see these tables sprinkled throughout a room to tie it together - Golden Bamboo Antiqued Mirror Tables

These wall shelves (they come in a set of 2!) are my current obsession...I've been drooling over these on a daily basis...I'd use them on either side of a mirror (perhaps over my fireplace...hmmm). All I know is I need them - Golden Bamboo Antiqued Mirror Triple Shelf

I received these wall shelves as a Christmas gift and am thrilled with them - they are beautiful in person and so elegant - Golden Bamboo Small Wall Shelf (another set of 2)

And at last...the piece de resistance...my ultimate bamboo brass fantasy! This stunner would be breathtaking anywhere you put it...could you imagine two of these towers, say, flanking a doorway? Oh my - Golden Bamboo Five-Shelf Tower

MH is for the most part a "coastal decor" shop (hence the Mermaid bit, so if your look is nautical, you'll be in heaven), but I've found it to be a sleeper source for Chinsoiserie pieces and really chic accessories - I hope you'll have fun checking it out!

Thanks for the chance to blog for you Camila...hope you're enjoying your trip!!