The Decorologist | Paint Color Consultant | Home Staging
Home Staging and Paint Color Expert Kristie Barnett, draws on her background in psychology and education to provide design and color advice to residential projects.
I have a couple of girlfriends who grabbed me at church on Sunday and said, “We’re going to the flea market. Let’s go!” So off we went, high heels and all. I haven’t been to the Nashville Flea Market in what seems like a bazillion years, which is sad given how much I love this kind of thing! I fell in lala-love with this vintage patio lounger, but it had a rip and cost $145.
Did you ever wish you could make your messy bookcases look like they do in a magazine? Let me show you how bookcase styling can make yours look fabulous, too! You’ll have to empty out the contents first, then:
Design by Meg Braff via Pinterest
1. Start with hardback BOOKS. It is a bookcase, afterall. Your bookcases will always look cluttered and messy if it’s filled with trinkets and photos. I think bookcase styling should require more books than anything else. [Read more...]
I am really good at making the surface of my home look lovely, but there's a lot that lies beneath the surface. A lot of stuff. Lovely things I have collected over the years and not-so-lovely things that I have no place or use for. This time of year gets me thinking that I need to be even more mindful and creative in making those collections functional and beautiful, otherwise they may be headed to Goodwill. Organization and storage doesn't have to just be functional. It can also be a thing of beauty. Look in your drawers and cabinets and see how you can use the things you love to look at to improve the function of your everyday life.
The Decorologist
There are many things that you may love for decorative purposes that can also serve a functional purpose if you think outside the box a bit.
Vases & Pottery: Sure, you pull them out when you're lucky enough to receive fresh flowers, but why keep your pretty ceramic or glass vases in the cabinet most of the time? I have a collection of vintage McCoy pottery, and I use them to hold pencils, paint brushes, and hobby supplies in my office. You could do the same with old mason jars or pretty tea pitchers.
It’s really starting to feel like Christmas now that some of my client projects are wrapping up and I can focus on some holiday cheer with my family and friends. I thought you might like to look around at some of the holiday collections and special vignettes that make me happy as I sit here in front of the fire and write to you. These photos are from a recent photo shoot of my home:
I was putting together an art grouping for a client the other day. She was blown away at how quickly I put it together and got it on the wall, with very few errant nail holes even! She had been staring at her blank wall for four years and had been paralyzed with fear to even attempt to put together a grouping on her own – and I had it up in less than an hour. What’s my secret? Well, I have a few.
black and white art grouping
Have a plan. Don’t just go in there willy-nilly with nails and a flying hammer. [Read more...]
One of my favorite things to use in decorating tabletops and ottomans is the humble tray. It’s great for corraling all kinds of pretties and collectables.
Trays are perfect for the popular upholstered ottoman - it’s not the end of the world if a glass or vase gets knocked over. And it’s the perfect base for a lovely vignette or display of books and accessories.
You can find all kinds of trays made of wood, plastic, ceramic. Don’t forget to check the kitchen section of your neighborhood superstore to find just the right tray for your living room.
You know what the best thing is about using trays to corral your small items? Grouping your accessories on a tray keeps things looking neater and less cluttered. I LOVE how this vintage picture frame was repurposed as a tray on a dressing table – isn’t this FABULOUS?
Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend – are you ready to get back at it?
I began working with a professional organizer yesterday because my life seemed to be teetering on the edge of disarray! I am really good at making the surface of my home look lovely, but there’s a lot that lies beneath the surface . . .
You have no idea what all is in those drawers . . .
In preparing for our next appointment, my head is spinning thinking of all my collections and what she is going to challenge me to part with. Of course, this gets me thinking that I need to be even more mindful and creative in making those collections functional and beautiful, otherwise they may be headed to Goodwill!
I had such a great weekend. A dear friend was in town visiting, and we spent Saturday doing something we used to do together when she lived in Nashville: went yard saling! It’s been a long time since I’ve spent a dedicated morning trolling for sales – I usually just hit a random estate sale if I am driving through a neighborhood on the way to a decorating job. I had to take a quick photo of this gorgeous interior door we saw at one of the estate sales we attended.
I am always more interested in accessories with a history than I am with new items from a chain store. These are the treasures I found on our hunt: [Read more...]
I have my own collection of vintage luggage which I use for storage and decoration in my home. Here are some fabulous ideas I found for making those lovely bits of vintage history even more functional and delightful.
Check out this one-of-a-kind entry table created with a base of vintage suitcases:
Le Papier Studio is all about the art and beauty of silhouettes, and you’ve gotta check out what they have to offer! I first read about this website in the Dec/Jan issue of Country Living, which featured their customized silhouette family tree.
Le Papier Studio’s Family Tree – $45
Here’s the coolest thing: you can choose between lots of different head silhouettes that approximate your family members, or you can send them your own family photos and they will customize the silhouettes! I’d love to have a pillow like this on my sofa with my daughters’ silhouettes:
Pillow Silhouettes
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