At Home with {Honeysuckle} 1.13.11

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

As you can see, there are more ways than one to incorporate Pantone’s “Color of the Year” into your home! An invigorating reddish pink, Honeysuckle is especially well-suited as an accent color, or you could go all out and cover your walls with it like the glamorous dressing room in our Color issue.

What do you think of honeysuckle? Too bright or just right?

1. Update your dining chairs with honeysuckle paint

2. Give your dressing room a glamorous makeover

3. Live large with a graphic new rug

4. Throw your tulips in a Kate Spade vase

5. Set the table with hand-blown glassware

6. Stash your family photos in a chic canvas case

7. Expand your vocab with a fashionable dictionary

8. Make a statement with a bright pink rug

9. Accessorize your Oly sofa with bright Trina Turk pillows

10. Add honeysuckle accents through art and pillows

In case you missed it:

Get organized with COLOR! 1.12.11

A colorful kitchen before & after 1.11.11

Spooktacular Last Minute Halloween Crafts

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

If your autumn has gone anything like mine has, then you are probably scrambling to get any decorations up at all, let alone anything new or creative! But don’t fret my friends, we still have time to get our Halloween craft on, and without breaking the bank!

First order of business: a stop at your favorite dollar store, followed by a quick breeze through of the dollar section at your local big box craft store. Here you can grab anÂ assortmentÂ of supplies- ribbon, pipe cleaners, papers,Â miniatureÂ pumpkins, clearance bird houses, black picture frames, glitter and anything else that strikes your fancy.

Project 1: Haunted House

Grab a clearance or thrifted bird house.

Spray paint it black.

Paint the roof shingles with glue and cover with black glitter.

Prepare your mini pumpkins by coating their stems in glue and glitter.

Use a fine point peremant market to draw letters or jack-o-lantern faces on mini pumpkins.

Affix pumpkins and other items (plastic spiders, black cats, bats) using hot glue.

For a ghostly glow you can also place small tap lights or electronic votive candles inside the house.

Voila! A haunted house that you can use for years.

Project 2. Spooky Signs

First, choose three differentÂ scrapbookÂ papers, 2Â patternsÂ and one solid. Using a word processing program print out a variety of sayings on the solid paper in a spook-tacular font.

Some of the sayings I have used are:

Happy Haunting

Fright this Way

BooÂ

Happy Halloween

Next, cut out your saying and the other two papers inÂ differentÂ sizes, then glue or tape these together creating a layered look as shown above.

Place inside an inexpensive black frame.

Attach ghoulish ribbon using a hot glue gun.

Display on a mantle or perhaps next to your jack-o-lanterns.

These also make great Halloween teacher’s gifts.

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Project 3:Â GhoulishÂ Pumpkins

This one is by far the easiest of the three crafts.Â All you need is some foam pumpkins in whatever color or sizes you like, some black and green craft paint and a paint brush (I used one about an inch wide.)

Use your paints to create a variety of patterns on your pumpkins – stripes, polka-dots and plaids, or take a selection Â and paint out a word like BOO using one pumpkin per letter. Have fun with this and don’t worry about mistakes. These are just foam pumpkins after all.

So there you go, three different ideas for some easy and inexpensive Halloween craft projects. Lacking motivation? Do not fear! You still have a weekend in between you and Halloween, why not invite some friends over for a little crafting and cocktails? Â After all, crafting is always the most fun when done with those you love!

At Home Friday Favorites 2.4.11

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

From editor in chief Diane Carroll: “Two of our favorite guest bloggers together in one place! Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home guest blogs on La Dolce Vita, with her wish-list of visuals for her dream home. As the owner of a two-story Victorian home, I like her exterior inspiration!” (“Dream Home: Pure Style Home” from La Dolce Vita)

From senior account executive Jennifer Hay: “What a great story!! I would love to go see it.” (“French mansion opens after being closed for 100 years” from French Quarters)

From account executive Kathy Condrey: “By far the coolest bathtub I have ever seen!” (“Incredible wooden bathtub” from House of Turquoise)

From advertising coordinator Laura LaRue: “Love this table! I am definitely recreating this for my next dinner party. Such a fresh and colorful surprise instead of one bunch of flowers in the middle of a table.” (“A Closer Look: Skill Swap Jamboree in Rue” from The City Sage)

From marketing coordinator Lauren Strother: “Oh the digital age is so much fun. What a great way to get to send little Valentine’s as a grownup. FUN!” (“New: Cartolina Cartograms iPhone app” from Design*Sponge)

From art director Mandy Keener: “For Christmas, I got some cattle skulls and painted them metallic copper for my dad. He didn’t really “get it,” but they look great in my parents’ den. There’s a longhorn in the works, too.” (“Trendspotter: Decorating with Antlers” from Good Bones Great Pieces)

From associate editor Paulette Pearson: “Photographed here by one of my favorite bloggers, Garance Dore, Giovanna Battaglia is one of my style icons. The scalloped edge on her sweater, her scarf is impeccably tied, and notice the surprising detail on her bracelet.” (“Giovanna Battaglia” from Garance Dore)

In case you missed it:

At Home Hits the Runway: Where high fashion and Arkansas design meet

crafting 101 : hostess gift DIY guide

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, and a month of holiday parties and celebrations ahead of us, I thought it might be nice to have a quick little reference guide to some great easy to make hostess gifts. Here is my 2012 Hostess Gift DIY Guide:

1) The dipped candles from Martha Stewart. OK, I haven’t tried this yet myself, but it looks easy enough and not that expensive. Customize the candles to your hostess’ color pallete and purchase some decorative match boxes and you have a ready made hostess gift that will work well no matter who your hostess is.

2) Custom Wine Stoppers from Chic to the Nines. You can make these from decorative drawer pulls and door knobs (easily found at stores like Hobby Lobby or Anthropologie) and pair them with a nice bottle of wine. The wine can be used at dinner but the corks will last for years.

3) Bread, Jam, Tea Towel. This is a classic gift, but one that can feel overwhelming if you think you have to make the bread and the jam yourself. Often you can find really yummyÂ artisanÂ breads and locally made jams at smaller grocery stores or neighborhood markets. Pair the store bought-but-handmade foods with a beautiful tea towel or two. Practical and yummy, everyone is sure to love this gift.

4) Herb infused oils and salts from Mountain Rose. These require a little forethought in that they take a week or so to “cure.” But they are easy to make in bulk. You can purchase theÂ ingredients at Sams Club or Whole Foods and theÂ bottles and jars are easily snagged at craft Â or dollar stores. Make several of each Â all at once and you will always have a yummy and unique ready to go at a moments notice.

5) A Jar Sewing Kit from BHG . Everyone needs a small mending kit – for their office, car, kitchen, etc. This is a small but thoughtful gift that you can customize with fabrics and colors that will suit your hostess. Make it as big or as small as you like – use vintage jars or new ones, and add buttons and Â small bits of colorful bakers twine for those “you never know” moments.

I am sure there are many more clever hostess gifts out there, these are just a few of my current favorites. I would love to know – do you have a standard, no fail hostess gift?

Painted Burlap Ottoman Makeover

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

At Home readers, you are in for a treat! Live the Home Life blogger and DIY extraordinaire Cara Wilkerson is now a monthly fixture on the At Home in Arkansas blog, sharing her tips and tricks-of-the-trade for bringing new life to old furnishings! We were blown away by Cara’s first post (she makes refurbishing this ottoman look so easy!), and we cannot wait to see what else she has in store. Welcome, Cara!

Just over a year ago, I stumbled upon a lovely little estate sale ottoman that was just too impossible to resist, so home he came with me. With a simple fabric switch-a-roo, this guy was much improved, but I have to be honest, I wasnâ€™t 100% happy with his transformation.

With a plethora of other furniture rehabs capturing my attention, this guy waited patiently in the wings until I could tackle him with plan B. Well, my friends, the time has now arrive to reinvent this furniture friendâ€¦againâ€¦so letâ€™s get down to some serious rehab business.

First up, slight demolition. Weâ€™ll begin by removing the existing fabric. Needle-nose pliers work wonders in plucking staples from any upholstery project.

Once the cushion is stripped, our next step is to paint the base. For easy painting, weâ€™ll hammer a nail into the bottom of each foot. This gives the legs a little lift to ensure that every angle of the foot is properly covered.

One solid coat of primer (I swear by Kilz) gives our future paint a solid surface to stick to.

Once our primer is dry, a couple of coats of white paint come into play. Weâ€™ll use a plastic bag to wrap our brush in between coats, keeping the bristles from drying out and saving us the hassle of washing our brush between each coat.

Next up, fabric for the cushion. For this part of the project, weâ€™ll mix it up a bit and try something new. Painted burlap is definitely in the near future.

To create a striped effect, letâ€™s use painters tape to outline our pattern.

My initial thought is to use black paint, but I feel the urge to opt for a charcoal gray instead. Wiping excess paint from the brush and applying in short strokes gives us a light, slightly aged feel and keeps the paint from bleeding underneath the painters tape.

While the paint is still wet, weâ€™ll remove the tape and pat ourselves on the back for transforming our burlap from boring to brilliant.

Once our paint is good and dry, letâ€™s flip the fabric over and work our way around the end of the seat cushion, attaching our fabric with a staple gun, flipping the seat over from time to time to make sure our stripes are laying straight.

Once finished, weâ€™ll place our seat cushion back on the frame and admire all of our handiwork. A completely simple transformation, and I could not be more excited. This is definitely the life this little guy was meant to live.

Wintertime Weekend Warrior

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

When the days are shorter and the lack of daylight paired with colder temps force us to spend more time inside, why not put your indoor time to good use with a few simple home projects?

Deck the halls. This time of year, hanging wreaths on windows, embellishing a sparkling tree and decorating a mantle go a long way in transforming a house into a cozy winter wonderland. Itâ€™s also a fantastic opportunity to cover up the eyesores lurking around your house with holiday prettiesâ€”think carpet stains and scratched walls.

Grab a paintbrush. Iâ€™ve said it once and Iâ€™ll say it againâ€”Alright, fine. Iâ€™ve said it a thousand times but it still holds true: When it comes to easy do-it-yourself projects, a little paint goes a long way. Whether you are thinking about giving your living room a fresh coat or painting a dated brick fireplace, the minimal cost and big result make this project a no-brainer.

Accessorize your bathroom. A new shower curtain, fluffy new towels and a few bath accessories and your bathroom will feel like new in no time. With so many fun accessory options, why not give your bathroom the boost it deserves?

Backsplash it up. While a kitchen remodel is out of the question when it comes to quick and easy weekend updates, adding a tile backsplash is high on the you-can-do-it list and also a great starter project for wannabe tile gurus. With so many how-to videos on the internet that show just how simple a backsplash can be to installâ€”like the one below from DIY Networkâ€”why not put a little lipstick on your kitchen before holiday guests arrive?

Play

DIY Den Makeover

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

When we asked Cara Wilkerson (of Live the Home Life fame) to join our cast of monthly blog columnists, we wondered how on earth she would come up with a before & after every month! Lo and behold–with a dresser, coat rack, ottoman and now an entire room–she has FAR exceeded our expectations! She is, without a doubt, a true DIY diva.

This week, she gives us a look at her fabulous den makeover. How’s that for a transformation?

When I first moved into my house, I knew I had more than my fair share of updating ahead of me. My den was no exception. With well worn hardwood floors, dark paneling and poor lighting, this room was definitely in need of a little TLC.

To get this space started on the road to recovery, I turned to the pros to refinish the hardwoods, replace paneling with sheetrock and update the dated ceiling fan with recessed lightingâ€¦

â€¦but what good would a Before & After with Cara Wilkerson be without a little DIY decorating? Letâ€™s get crackinâ€™!

A couple coats of a creamy yellow on the walls and white on the fireplace and built-ins worked its magic in giving this space a much lighter (and larger) feel than its before status.

Now an empty shell, time to furnish and turn this room into a functioning den. No room in my house would be complete without a furniture rehab or two, so with a few swipes of the paintbrush, a $7.00 thrift store side table was ready to join in on the fun.

While rummaging through my grandmotherâ€™s house a few months back I came across a pile of naval architecture prints. Tucked away for a rainy DIY day, it was high time to bring these prints out of hiding and display in my new den.

A half dozen inexpensive poster frames and a can of spray paint later, this DIY wall art project was a wrap.

Finally, topped off with furniture discarded by family & friends, a scattering of thrift store finds and few inexpensive accessories, this den rehab was in the bag

Befores & Afters

at home for the holidays : mint julep cup arrangement

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

The holidays are always a busy time of hustling and bustling, which is why we think this simple, low-maintenance holiday arrangement from our friend Andrea Brooks is a MUST for any busy entertainer or hostess! Thanks so much for sharing, Andrea!

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I love to incorporate fresh greenery into my holiday dÃ©cor but with our crazy Arkansas weather you can’t always depend on it lasting through the holidays. I found this great DIY arrangement that will do just that – mine are over a week old and are still looking fresh and festive! Follow these easy steps to create your own:

How to create the mint julep cup arrangement 1. Cut a piece of green oasis to fit the full size of the cup. It should fit snugly to help the arrangement stay close to the top of the vase/cup.

2. Add water to fully wet the oasis.

3. Add your cedar branches starting from the outer edges (I like to start at the corners and work in). When trimming these pieces you will want to keep the outer ones a little longer to give them some drape. 4. Fill in the middle with shorter cedar pieces, pine and berries. Remember, the more organic it looks the better!

In seconds you have a festive arrangement that will long outlast fresh flowers. This arrangement can be used throughout your home in several different ways; for example, I have placed several in the windowsill in my kitchen and also as cheerful place settings for the head chairs in my dining room. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season! Andrea Brooks Andrea Brooks Interiors | Facebook

kitchen details, wrap-around porches, white spaces

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

From editor in chief Diane Carroll: “With our kitchen and bath issue due to arrive any day, I’ve had kitchens on my mind. These are lovely, and showcase how important choosing the right details–down to the faucet–can be.” (“More sinks on walls” from Things That Inspire)

From assistant art director Laura LaRue: “Oh-so-ready to be able to hang out and entertain on our deck, but the heat here in Arkansas is keeping us all inside. My dream house will have a wrap-around porch though…just like this one!” (“Farm fresh” from Shelter Interior Design)

From associate editor Paulette Pearson: “I need to just embrace the fact that I’m obsessed with white, light-filled interiors. In this space, though, I especially like that it’s grounded with a dark floor and black accents. Love the chandelier and that it’s so serene feeling.” (“Contrasts and texture” from Greige)

From account executive Stevi Jackson: “My daughter and I discovered a fabulous little highway rock shop over the weekend. This is my inspiration for displaying our pretty new gems!” (“Tiny rock collections” from Daydream Lily)

at home with : handmade holiday decor

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

In the December issue, we asked members of the Northwest Arkansas chapter of ASID to share some fun and simple DIY holiday decor projects with us. We are so in love with these crafts, we’re contemplating hosting our own holiday DIY party! While the print edition featured a handful of our very favorites, we’ve posted expanded content on the At Home site, with five projects not seen in the magazine! Click the links below for instructions on creating these gorgeous decorations yourself!