DYI: Add Texture to Your Walls

I have been struggling over our bedroom for the last year or so. I like all of the elements individually, but all together they have felt a bit bland. Granted, we don't have all of our furniture yet so that in itself adds layers and textures. I adore my duvet cover with the graphic black and beige pattern from Dwell. I like the soft butter color of the walls and the mushroom colored silk drapes...but it just seems so...beigish.

I grappled over the idea of wallpapering the main wall behind our bed, but that seemed like too much commitment to a pattern I may or may not still like in a year. I also thought of painting it an accent color, but that didn't seem like the best fit either. Then - a ha! Put molding on the one wall to add visual interest and texture! I love it and can just imagine how a headboard, some art work and new darker lampshades will pop with that added layer. It took my husband about a day and a half to put it up and paint it all and he did a fabulous job. It cost us only around $100 for something that adds a ton of architectural interest...AND I didn't have to face my fear and commit to a pattern! ;) Life is good.

Also notice the ceiling. We put a medallion around the chandelier for that extra touch. It's those extra finishing touches that really make a room. I guess you could say that having furniture adds that "finishing touch" too. Baby steps, baby steps.

Branch Home: Honor Mothers Around the World

OK- it's late and time for bed, but I wanted to get this posted in honor of Mother's Day. These kitchen towels from Branch Home are beautifully crafted by hard working women in Transylvania and Romania and by purchasing their goods you help them provide for their families. How awesome is that?! The materials used to make these are organically grown on family farms then spun and processed by hand. Mothers all over the world work hard to care for their children and I'd say we have it pretty good on this side of the globe. Each towel is a bit spendy for what we are accustomed too at $19 each, but then again it's not from China this time and has the greater good in mind.
Happy Mother's Day!

Velocity Art & Design: Santa's Helper

Here is something clever as a coat rack! The Ghost Antler Coat Rack, from Velocity Art and Design is cast in white resin (Santa's reindeer were not harmed in the process!) and is mounted on the wall as simple decor or as functional art. Use them to hang coats (albeit light ones), scarves, umbrellas, hats, etc. The designer, Erich Ginder, is a local Seattlite so I am all but happy to support a local! We have two of these mounted downstairs above the bench just as you come in from the garage. They are an unexpected twist that always catches one's attention.

Art: Highs and Lows

Last summer, the Starbucks in UVillage near UW was featuring these art sculptures that were for sale. They were simple enough; silver painted driftwood mounted on a thin post and stand. I thought they were pleasing and a clever way to display nature. I thought to myself, "I could easily do that". And I was also curious to look at what they were selling for (I am never one to pass up a price tag!). Holy smokies!!! They were running for around $1,200 a pop??!! Are you kidding me?! After that, my husband and I would always have a chuckle every time we went in and saw those ridiculously priced pieces of art.

So last summer, we were on a weekend trip at the beach and decided to do our own interpretation of the silvered driftwood and collected a few pieces that we thought were interesting shapes. We came home, painted one of them silver that took all of about 2 minutes and voula! Insta art that cost...well nothing since we already had the paint. I decided not to mount it on a post since I found a nice little nook for it laying horizontal, but you never know, maybe some day I will.

Point being, be creative in reinterpreting art that you like. It's always within reach or in some cases, right on the beach.

Recipe: Oatmeal Cookies That Won't Fall Flat

After a long week of feeling tired and fighting a cold, I usually want to bake something comforting. And what is more comforting than a good batch of chewy oatmeal raisin cookies? I baked a batch a few days ago and they have been feeding my sole (among other things that could do without) ever since.

It's hard to find a good oatmeal cookie that doesn't flatten out like a pancake or on the other extreme, is more like a dry dense cake than it is a cookie. So I leave you this weekend with this comforting recipe that will fill your home with yummy smells and is sure to please a crowd.

Makes about 48+ cookies...depends how much cookie dough you eat I suppose
1 c butter, softened
1 c brown & 1 c white sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla (the real stuff!)
1.5 c flour
1 1/8 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (kosher or sea)
2 tsp pumpkin spice seasoning
3 c uncooked oatmeal (not the quick kind)
1 c chopped pecans
1 c yellow raisins

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in electric mixer until light and fluffy about 5 min. Add eggs and vanilla, mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, soda, salt and spices. With mixer running, gradually add dry ingredients to butter/sugar mixture and mix until thoroughly combined. Fold in oatmeal, nuts and raisins. Drop by tablespoon (I use a one-inch cookie scoop and they come out perfectly every time) 2 inches apart, onto lightly greased cookie sheet or one lined with a silpat (my preference). Flatten tops slightly and bake 10 minutes for a soft cookie.

Bakers Notes:
A few things I have figured out over the last few years trying to learn my own oven is to not put two cookie sheets in on the same shelf. The heat doesn't circulate properly, thus leaving you with half burnt bottom cookies. Also rotate the sheet halfway through to ensure an evenly browned bottom. Enjoy!

You can purchase a silpat online at Amazonif you don't have one - highly recommended for all types of sheet baking!!

Alena Hennessey: Back to Nature

The first time I stumbled across Alena Hennessey's design work, I was an instant fan. Her nature inspired prints, totes and pillows are soothing and delightful all in one. She has also introduced a new eco-line for those green conscious people out there and offers custom work if you want that unique piece no one else will ever have.

What is Your Design Style? - The Votes Are In

So I am surprised that 37% of the voters said their design style is traditional with vintage/eclectic coming in at a distant second. I thought for sure that most people would vote for ultra modern or contemporary, but those two were the lowest vote getters - so I am glad I posed the question! My personal taste is transitional which pretty much means I can float either way. Thanks for voting and be sure to vote on the new question!!

Korres Skin Care: The Greeks Did it Again

Now that the sun is starting come to out (theoretically in Seattle anyway), it's time to hydrate that skin and give your gams a healthy glow. My husband and I are in to finding natural, chemical free products. We try to forgo the standard chemical laden products as much as we can so I am on the constant hunt for natural products that still deliver results - this is no easy task! We have found that even the ones that claim to be organic truly are not - ugh! Such liars!

At any rate, I came across this brand, Korres, at Whole Foods a while back and have been loving their body butters...and the bonus? You can actually read AND understand all of the ingredients!! I use the body butter as an every day hand lotion since I have pretty dry skin to begin with, and they make my skin feel so soft and delish!!. My favorite scents have been the Yogurt (I keep this one on my desk) and the Guava (I have this in a travel size for my purse). Be sure to read the ingredients on their other products however. Just because one product of a natural product line is free of the "bad stuff", this does not mean that their entire line is free of them. I have learned the hard way and dropped some cash thinking I was getting an organic product. A rule of thumb is: if you don't know what the ingredient is or can't pronounce it, it probably is a chemical of some sort.

You can find Korres at Sephora, Nordstrom and as I mentioned above, Whole Foods.

As a side note, when I brought the Korres lotion home, my husband gave the instant stamp of approval since he is greek to the nth degree and believes that the greeks pretty much invented...well everything ;)