Waterlogue App and office inspiration


I recently came across the greatest App called "Waterlogue."
 
It allows you to upload your photos and transfer them into sketches, watercolor photo's, etc.  
What I found interesting is that the watercolors show the lines that I see in my brain before I even start working on the job.  Waterlogue
 It emphasizes the, shapes, colors, textures and detail that I think of while processing my thoughts as to how the room should all come together.
  For instance, in the above  photo you can see how the staircase work beautifully with the floor, paintings and coffee table.  The horse head on the coffee table works beautifully with the pillows, etc.  My trained eye is what makes a room look pulled together with ALL the elements use.  It's not just about shopping for items, it's about selecting just the right items for each room.
 
 I love how you can see the shapes incorporated in the design in each watercolor.
Anyone can purchase furniture, accessories, artwork, unique architectural pieces and rugs. 
 
 However, pulling it all together is where a trained eye comes in.   Lots and lots of experience with the layering of objects and furniture.
 
 We Designers make it all come together and use unique items you wouldn't have thought of.
Often times I'm working with a client and they can't see how it is all going to come together.  I can literally see this sketch in my head and know it will all work together when finished.  The details truly are what make the client LOVE the end result in the end.
I've been thinking about how I can re-decorate my office lately and this Waterlogue App inspired me. 
 I'm going to have all these "new watercolor" photos enlarged, matted and framed.  I am then going to create a gallery wall of them all. 

They are all jobs I have completed and I love the idea of them hanging in my office.  As you go through this post, take a look at the detail and you will notice all the elements I'm talking about.  Each room is scaled perfectly, has a variety of shapes, texture and all the colors are married together somehow.
Have fun as you look through each one.  See if your eye can connect the dots.






What do you think?

HGTV & Jennifer Hatmaker

I've recently been exposed to Jennifer Hatmaker.  My lifegroup (the amazing girlfriends  I do life with) decided to do a study that she has written.  We have just started and I'm already LOVING it.  Thought I'd share some details with you!
 "American life can be excessive, to say the least. That’s what Jen Hatmaker had to admit after taking in hurricane victims who commented on the extravagance of her family’s upper middle class home. She once considered herself unmotivated by the lure of prosperity, but upon being called “rich” by an undeniably poor child, evidence to the contrary mounted, and a social experiment turned spiritual was born."
 
She has a book that goes along with this workbook too.  It's a hilarious read. 
Watch the Youtube trailer of the book at this link. Book Trailer
I also found out that HGTV is doing a show about them and their journey fixing up an old house.  They are filming it at the moment.   See her blog post about it here.

You can follow the HGTV process on her blog.  It's such fun!

"7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence"

They have also adopted children from other countries that are now a part of their family!  So cool and such an inspiration to so many!
Hope she inspires you as much as she has me. It's always so refreshing to see woman who are making a difference in the lives of others.
  You can order her books at Amazon.com
 

Best Brunch Punch Ever

 I found a recipe many moons ago for an Brunch Punch and stashed it away in my recipe book for a later date. 
This past week I hosted a birthday party for a good friend that was turning 40.   I found the punch recipe in my "Brunch" section when thumbing through looking for ideas.  I decided to give this punch a try and it was delicious so I thought I'd share it with you.

RECIPE 
1 Minute Maid frozen Orange Juice
2 liter of Sprite
2 liter of Ginger Ale
1 bottle of Sparkling Apple Cider
Mix together above ingredients and top with fresh orange slices and raspberries.
 
I also added a raspberry to each glass to make it look wonderful.  We had some leftover and made Sangria that evening which was delicious!
We had a fabulous time together and she was very surprised to see us all when she opened the door!  It was casual, relaxed and my home was filled with laughter which is what makes me so happy! Nothing like having great girlfriends together to celebrate a birthday!
I'm blessed to have great friends in my life!
Why not schedule a girls brunch just so you can make this punch and try it yourself!
 
Visit my website to see my Design Portfolio DecRenew Interiors

Christmas Decorating 2013

 

This year I was determined to decorate my home before the season began and I actually did it!

 
This is my front door swag and my Christmas tree.
 
 
I always place my tree in a garden urn to make it taller in my entry.  Fortunately I have a willing hubby who rigged this up for me to make it easy each year. 
 
 
He actually screwed the Christmas tree base into the top of the urn for easy installation.
 
 
I love admiring the ornaments my kids have made throughout the year.  I also have a collection of crystal ornaments that sparkle beautifully!
 
 
Each year I frame a photo of our family representing a significant event from that year.  It's so much fun to go back and look at each one and reminisce.  Last year we were at Disney and it was a Christmas of a lifetime.  It's fun to see our photo hanging on the tree.
 
 
My birdies always get their berry wreaths on their tails each year.
 
 
I love placing ornaments throughout my home, especially in my entry arrangement.
 
I filled my bowl on my dining room table with all my favorite large ornaments.
 
 
The gold deer is a new addition this year.
 
 
My cabinet in my kitchen got all decked out too with oversized ornaments, large pinecones and birds.
I did it in about 4 hours and said a sigh of relief when it was done!  Especially since about 1/2 our lights weren't working and had to be replaced.
 
 
 One of the tapestries I purchased in Paris even got a touch of sparkle.  My bust got a swig of pine too!
 
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After I finished MY HOME, I was off to do our Church decorating.
 
Deck the Halls is literally what we did all day a few weeks ago.
 
 
I recruited about 7 teenagers that willingly decorated their fingers to death!
We had some fantastic lady volunteers that joined us too!  Didn't they do an amazing job on the tree?  This was at the end of the day so you can see the exhaustion  written all over our faces.

 
I just love the fireplace in our lobby!  You feel like you are in a mountain lodge!  Now that it is all decked out with sparkly icicles and snow covered garland it is even more fantastic! 
 

My hubby and his friend spent a few hours on this lift fluffing wreaths and swags! That's dedication! They actually have a little "decorator" in them - Shh don't tell them I said that. They also took great instruction as I yelled and pointed from below.
 
I found these great big ornaments this year and they look amazing on the rustic mantel! The stockings were made last year by a grandma in the church.  I gave her a blanket I loved and asked her to make great big stockings out of it. She added black velvet to the top of each one and they look fantastic on this huge mantel.
 


My philosophy behind good Christmas decorating is to have large items and fewer of them.  Big ornaments always make a tree look fantastic! 
A fresh wreath is hung in my living room and smells divine.  Just hope it lasts till Christmas.
 
 
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We also decorated a business lobby a couple weeks ago.
 
 
 Lots of work but so rewarding to see the finished product.  Such gorgeous colors to match their corporate banners in their waiting area in the lobby.
 
 
I've been extremely busy the past few weeks and am looking forward to some down time this holiday season.   I've been enjoying my Christmas mugs each morning when I do my quite time by the fire.
Hope you are enjoying your season!
 
 
One more week and it's time to "check out" for a while!
 
 
 
 
 
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Visit my website, DecRenew Interiors
 

Do you take time to rest and replenish?

One of the goals I've always had as a business owner is to strive to improve myself. I don't ever want to become stagnant and boring in my personal life and as a Decorator.
It's really easy to loose your vision when you are running a mile a minute and fail to take time to STOP and replenish.  Being that I'm a mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter,  decorator, blogger, teacher, volunteer and business owner, it's easy to become exhausted.
I have been extremely busy lately and have felt very anxious and stressed.
 
One of the things I'm learning is to make sure I find time for myself to "BE STILL." This task is not easy for me and over the past few months, I'm really trying hard to accomplish this task.  Everyone needs to make time to be filled up.  We woman think we can do it all and still give out our best.
This is a lie and I'm totally learning that I have to take time to REST and REPLENISH. 
I decided to do something for myself that I could look forward to.  A time to get my cup filled up and a time to have energy poured into me with some rest amongst that time.
One of the ways I've found helps me feel restored is to be around people that are positive, encouraging and successful.   I also have admiration for those that have learned from their mistakes and successes and are WILLING TO SHARE with others by mentoring.
   Tobi Fairley is one of those woman that I have watched over the past 5 years and have gained lots of admiration for her personally as well as an Interior Designer. She is incredibly transparent and willing to share her insight and ideas.

I just returned from Little Rock, AR where I attended Tobi Fairley's Designer MBA Class.  Several years ago I attended one of her Design Camps and found it incredibly helpful.  See the post here.

She and her incredible staff  poured into about 20 of us for 3 whole days.
I learned a ton and had fun making new friends with other Designers from all over the US and Canada.  It was good to learn the things I'm doing well with my business as well as things I need to change immediately!
 
Prior to the class, we were asked to take a personality test.  It was fun to see what personality I was as well as the rest of the class.
I'm learned that I am a ENFJ
Which also translates to "I'm like a dog"

ENFJ's are social butterflies who are cheerleaders and supporters of a wide variety of friends and acquaintances. They hate bullying and they love to greet their loved ones with a face lick and a tail wag. They feel good when the people around them feel good, and they tend to adapt to the group that they are in very quickly, even adopting the values of whoever they are surrounded by. They are loyal and expect loyalty from others — think of them as the living embodiment of a “team player.”
It always helps to know yourself and improve yourself. As you can see I'm a people pleaser and tend to burnout quickly.  Which explains why I need to take time to "be still" and replenish.  Of course learning that I can't please everyone is something that everyone struggles with.

I had an amazing time with round table discussions, brainstorm sessions, question and answer times and cocktail parties.
 
 The evening times in my hotel room were incredibly restful and I took time to reflect on my personal life and business.

The Capital Hotel is amazing and I LOVED the toffee they put on your pillow each night!  One of the things that was confirmed is that I cannot do it all and cannot be everything to everyone!  It's time to do some delegation which I have started to do already!

source

What are you doing to pour into YOU?  Are you continually striving to be better but also taking time for yourself?  If you own a business, it's hard work!   Take the personality test, find a mentor, be still and do not feel one bit guilty about it!

 Visit my website, DecRenew Interiors to see my Design Portfolio.