My Top 5 August Favorites

My Favorite Pin:

Industrial Chic

Oh the things I LOVE about this space!  First and foremost, I love the overall "feel".  This is a style that I love for myself, but I will admit there are a few elements in this photo that may be a touch too contemporary for me.  But nonetheless, I love this room!  I call this style Industrial Chic.  I quite honestly don't know if that is a "real" style or not, but it is the name I came up with for spaces with natural & industrial elements, metals & wood, something old & something new.  I think the best place to start is the flooring; wide plank wood and vintage tiles!  Look closely at that kitchen floor...LOVE LOVE LOVE!  Those green, gold and white tiles pull the space together from one side of the room to the other.  The brick wall is a must-have in any Industrial Chic home!  Don't have a brick wall in your house?  Build one!  Find old reclaimed bricks and choose your wall.  It couldn't hurt to check out this site before you start.  Not everyone has the time or money to put up a real brick wall, so then what?  Fake it!  Use brick tiles or even a sheet of fake brick from the home improvement stores.  Add a little joint compound and some paint, and that fake wall will fool everyone who walks into your home (my tutorial on this is coming soon, but in the meantime, check this out).  Take a look at that kitchen island!  It appears to be an old work bench with a piece of butcherblock on top.  A nice deep sink with a simple faucet and storage underneath...perfect!  The "exterior" space is loaded with great features as well.  Check out those floating stairs connected to a ladder leading to a mystery loft area above!  And the numbers carved into the stone wall are a super cool touch.  That sums up the "hardscape" of this space, but it is the furniture and accessories that pull the look together and make it feel so welcoming.  The chalkboard on the kitchen wall, the industrial pendants, the cool cart with fresh flowers and the wood and metal barstool, all come together to create a cohesive look that is warm and pleasing to the eye.  Kudos to the designer of this space!

My Favorite Exterior Color Combo:

Exterior Colors

Cream, white, black, gray and green (plant green, that is)!  Now this home is very unique in style, but the color combination can be applied to just about any house on the block.  This color combination is classic, trendy, formal, informal, and just plain ole pretty all at the same time!  To start with, I love the creamy stones that make up the base color of this home.  Here it is a natural color, but could be easily reproduced with paint to give you the same feel.  Now obviously your home needs to have some architectural details, like corbels, shutters, railings, posts, etc., to add more colors.  These details on this home appear to be done in black and gray.  Notice the lighting, railing and even the front door, are all within the black/gray color scheme.  Many people would be tempted to paint this front door a color that pops, and although that would not be wrong, it would distract from the overall "pretty" feel that it currently has.  In my opinion, the color that pops in this photo is the green of the shrubs and trees!  That is the main reason why this home is beautiful, and not boring.  Keep it simple, choose a few colors and add natural elements to create a soothing home that looks and feels like this one!

My Favorite DIY Project:

DIY

Check out this blog!  I go into house after house after house for decorating jobs, and nine times out of ten, there is a popcorn ceiling that has to go!  It will cost you hundreds of dollars to pay a professional to remove your light-sucking ceiling (popcorn ceilings make rooms look darker), but YOU can do it for almost nothing.  As you will see in this blog, you only need a spray bottle and a knife.  Most people have those 2 items laying around the house already!  I would also grab some plastic sheeting and tape off everything, including the walls.  This stuff makes a mess, but cleanup is easy if it all lands on the plastic!  In summary, spray down your ceiling in sections to get it soaked, run a large drywall knife along the ceiling, then clean up.  That's about it!  The most important tip is to keep your knife flat at all times so you don't gouge the ceiling.  Oh...and wear eye protection & a mask!  After it is cleaned up, prime and paint.  As noted in this blog, check for asbestos before starting this project.  Click here for tips on asbestos safety.

My Favorite Fall Look:

Fall Porch

SIMPLE!  This porch is sweet, simple and warm.  It isn't just all the accessories, either.  The love starts with the house color and that gorgeous door, but certainly don't overlook the painted striped floor!  Wondering where to get those cool accessories?  Check out KalamazooKitty, of course!  We always have a large selection of old ladders, large metal tubs and wreaths.  A great time to shop is at our fall outdoor events!  September 19th, 2015 is our Autumn Air Event at the West Main location.  October 10th, 2015, is our Fall Kickoff Event at the Portage Rd. location.  Both events will have outdoor booths filled with fall decor & furnishings!  Now that you know where to grab these items to duplicate this look, let's break it down:
Wreath: this wreath is a simple dark orange.  It could be leaves, bittersweet or anything else you can find.  Make your own or pick one up.
Wreath hanger: not the usual metal, this is a piece of a burlap sack!
Old ladder: any size will do, as long as it fits your space.  We have several wide bottom ones at both locations right now!
Burlap BOO: once again, buy it or make it.  This is an easy project with some burlap and paint, but you will probably find them already made at KalamazooKitty.
Old turkey pan: what a great idea for holding pumpkins and gourds!  I picked one up at a garage sale last year, but any old metal container will do the trick!
Hay & cornstalks: your local farmer's market or pumpkin patch will have plenty to choose from.
Doormat: pick one that works with your color scheme and the season.
So even if you can't paint your front porch with cool stripes, you can pull together a great fall look that will welcome in the holiday season!

My Favorite Piece @ KalamazooKitty Right Now:

Drafting Table & Stools

Oh do I love this "island"!  Originally an old drafting table with metal mechanisms and solid wood top, aligned horizontally it makes the perfect kitchen island!  Paired with these 4 industrial metal stools, this is the perfect addition to an Industrial Chic home.  But let's not stop there!  Yes, you could use it as a drafting table, but how 'bout a craft table for the kids?  A wrapping station or scrapbook center?  A folding table for the laundry room or a card table in the basement for parties?  A dining table on a screened-in porch or a desk for your home office?  The possibilities are endless, which is why it is my favorite item on consignment right now!  This drafting table, and stools priced separately, are at the West Main location.  If you have been looking for one of these treasures, this is one of the best I've seen!  Solid, sturdy and ready for a new home...like yours!

That wraps up August!  Tomorrow welcomes September...back to school, cool night air, mums in bloom and leaves starting to fall.  This is my FAVORITE time of year in Michigan!

This is from Kalamazoo...to you!