Pamper Mom This Year

With the big day fast approaching, we're got some ideas for this Mother's Day. And although we know Mom will love with whatever we get for her, some of the best gifts are the ones that help her relax and unwind at home -- because she deserves it.

Whether its organizing her jewelry or some serenity in the backyard, we've got a present in mind. We have a lot of ideas to give her that little bit of pampering.

The warms afternoons of summer are approaching, and it makes you want to sit outside. There is nothing better than gathering around to enjoy the company of family and friends. Why not get her a lantern for the garden. It might be a hanging version, or something pretty to set on the table like our blue wire cathedral lanterns.

Why not give Mom the elements for a relaxing bath. We have eco-friendly spa sets in wonderful fragrances like Orange Ginger, Warm Vanilla or Lemongrass with Eucalyptus. These pretty scents in a lovely basket are the perfect indulgence.

You can also show her you care by putting your favorite photo of you together in a great frames. There is nothing better than a personal memory to say I Love You.

Enjoy!
Linda @ Urban Cottage

Vamp the Old Lamp

I have always been a big fan of great lighting. There are so many times I really needed some good lighting to perk up a room. The problem with lamps is that it takes me forever to find something I am really in love with.

So what do you do if you need some lighting and don't want to invest in lamps you don't love or that are so crummy you don't want them in your home? Well, I took it upon myself to do a little transformation. I got there yellow lamps at a flea market for $1.00 each. The lamps are a decent shape and are a solid ceramic. That made it a good base to get started.

Instead of putting yellow lamps (no offense, but they are yuck) in my living room, I decided to give them a little TLC. First, I spray painted them light blue. That is a color that coordinates with the room, but there are only dashes you can see. I also like the color because it is bright and perky, and the bones of the room (wood planks and brick) are a bit dark.

After giving the lamps several coats, I replaced the harps on the light. They were different sizes and the finials looks a bit tattered. For this project, I got a basic white shade and shaazam, they look like new.

I am not sure if I am going to decorate the shade with a stripe or chevron, but I will make sure to update this post if I do that!

Tranform a Room with Mirrors

 

One of the design elements of a room that often gets overlooked are mirrors. They are a decorative item that doesn't gets much fanfare. They have a wide range of uses including finish material on walls, and as a cladding on furniture. Whether you hang it over the fireplace, by the door for that one last look or place them in frames throughout the room, mirrors can transform a space from small to roomy in a heartbeat. Mirror styles are versatile in that they can represent any décor style, and come in a variety of sizes to fit any location in the home.

Your home can benefit from the use of mirrors, and here are some simple benefits to keep in mind:

Make a room feel larger by reflecting the light and brightening it up
Place a mirror over the fireplace to make the room bigger and be a focal point
Add interest to a long hallway by distracting the eye when walking down the hallway
Brighten up your entry with mirrors in a foyer or entryway is a welcomed sight for guests
Bedroom full length mirrors can be a simple framed piece on a wall or you can have a bold statement as a piece of furniture.


Mirrors reflect light into a space to enliven the décor. The true beauty of mirrors is that they can be utilized in every room of your house, so try using mirrors in the room you love best!

Enjoy!

Linda @ Urban Cottage

Classic Charm from an Old Planter

If you ever go to flea markets, thrift stores . . . or sometimes just your own garage, you might have some ceramics or planters whose glory days have past. Sometimes these are in the shape of flowers, animal or cars.

For this project, I decided to rescue a car planter. Most likely it was a father's day gift with some sort of small plant. The first thing I always think about is how and where I am going to use this. For this project, I would loved to make it a pair of bookends. However, I only had one, so I thought it would be a great conversation piece to add to a bookshelf or mantel.

The design of the car is very old fashioned, so I wanted to pick a new and fresh color to give it a more modern edge. You would be amazed how much the right color can transform the feeling of something and help transition it between style.

For this project, I picked Seaside. It has that great color you will find on those hotels dotting the beach along the east coast. It is also in the realm of thespunky teal colors that continue to be part of the home decor color trends for 2013.

OK, down to brass tacks. First, make sure the piece is very clean, or your spray paint won't adhere to it. Yes, I use spray paint because of the ability to adhere without sanding. It is also gives a better finish without brush marks.

I start on the bottom of the piece. It is important because if the paint doesn't something strange, you can potentially hide it on the bottom and figure out how to fix it before coating the top.

Give the piece a light coat. Wait for 5/10 minutes depending on outside temperature and put on a second coat.

I love those this came out. You can see that it has a great rustic feel, but lends a pop of color to my bookshelf.

Turning a Coffee Table Into a Unique Chalk Board

After sitting in their garage for months, I got an inspiration to transform it. No longer would it live on as a semi-odd looking coffee table, but it would be converted into a large chalk board. It was a great idea, the ornate rim of the coffee table would take on an elegant look.

First, I had my dad saw off the legs. Yes, I am very handy, but I leave the table saw skills to my engineer father.

Next, I gave the table a light sanding. Since I was using double coverage spray paint that also adheres to plastic, you don't have to go too crazy. After that was done, I painted the table Heirloom White. It is my "Go To" color on furniture project. I did a light spray on the whole piece. After that dried, I did a very thorough job on the parts of the table that would not be against the wall or covered by chalkboard paint.

I wasn't sure if I was going to distress it, but doing a great job of the paint job at this point gives you the option to keep it solid or distress. Doing a sloppy job means you really have to distress it to cover up any imperfections. After the white dried, I taped the piece to cover the Heirloom White. Then I sprayed multiple coats of chalkboard paint onto the table. I was really lucky because the day I chose to work on the project, the weather was very warm.

When using spray paint, make sure the conditions are not too cold or too humid or you will get bubbles and imperfections in the finish. The only way to fix them, sand it down and start over...not very fun

You want to make sure you give the chalkboard paint awhile to dry before putting on another coat . . . to make sure it cures. I decided to give it just a tad of distressing. I felt it looked more authentic given the period of the piece. Something about distressing makes it feel more homey and loved to me.

The last piece of the puzzle was to come up with a way to hang it. Since there is room in the frame of the table, you could hang it directly on the wall. It makes for a pretty stable set up.

Spreading Color Around the Room

We are definitely into 2013, and that means that all of the color trend predictions for 2013 are starting to make their way into the store. You can see these colors used in so many ways. The palette is a great combination of jewel tones and muted brights. By mixing and matching, you can find a really nice balance in your room.

You might really like bright colors, but too much of it can overwhelm a room. Great designers pull that off through texture variation. However, you can have a combination of light, dark and medium tones to create that equilibrium for yourself.

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize how things will go together. This great style guide from PROJECT DÉCOR shows some great combinations of colors from several elements of a room that touch all the hues in the 2013 trend palette. Not only are they mixing colors like Nectarine with African Violet and Lemon Zest, but also pairing Dusk Blue and Monaco Blue. Having different shades of the same color, such as blue, is an easy way to create layers if you want to stick with just a few colors in your home.

Enjoy!
Linda @ Urban Cottage

What Should I Hang on the Walls?

In any house or apartment, the walls are the biggest design area. There is more square footage to consider than any other element in your home. It also makes using the wall and finding great design pieces seem like a challenge at times.

I have mentioned in the past sure fire ways to create wall galleries, and how to use botanical for a classic decorating touch. But how do you pick something for the walls. Well, there are a lot of different approaches. Buy what you love. If you see a painting, a print or something that makes you smile or ponder. That is the best place to start.

It is hard to have the patience to wait and find something that you like, but it is the best way to go. If you did want to get something in the meantime, there are so many different choices for wall decor. There is decor to match any personality. You might like rustic, modern or illustrative. We have lots of selections at Urban Cottage, but Pinterest is also a great resource to find some inspiration.

Enjoy!

Linda @ Urban Cottage