Kitchen Renovation Stress - Will you help me decide?

So, I'm trying really hard to be ahead of everyone working on my kitchen renovation so that when they ask me a design question, I already have the answer! Even though there was a major set-back today, I am trying to keep my kitchen drama in perspective here. I wanted to cry, BUT the truth is, I am very lucky to be getting a new kitchen! 

Will you help me get a head start on yet another one of the decisions I need to make? I need to pick a vent/hood for above my range. The range is brushed stainless and cabinets are probably going to be a warm white color. Check out my options below: 

Any feedback will be much appreciated :)

Currently Obsessed: Lapis Pearl Soap Baubles

Lapis Pearl Soap Bauble^TM Necklace is hand created to duplicate a real Lapis gemstone. Handcrafted in glycerin, these jeweled necklace-shaped soaps add a touch of instant glamour to your bath. It is a great hostess gift too!

This beautiful Lapis Soap Bauble^TM necklace is strung on an inch and a half satin ribbon and boxed ready for gift giving. Each Soap Bauble^TM is scented with the finest fragrance blends.

 Fleur Frutage:

Fleur Frutage is a fruity floral fragrance with notes of nectarine, green apple, and mandarin orange combined with jasmine, and lily of the valley and a warm honey finish. A very feminine seductive scent with the perfect bouquet of fruit and floral.

Here are some more of their wonderful products!

Statement necklaces

Sugar gem scrubs

Soap gems

...and of course, classic pearl bracelets!

Visit the website to see what other fun things they have to offer or, if you live in Dallas, stop in to Highland Park Village's St. Michael's Women's Exchange and pick some up.

Southern Living Style on Good Day Atlanta

I had a great morning in Atlanta at the beautiful Fox Studios. The team at Good Day Atlanta is so gracious.
Here is the segment we did featuring affordable design tips from Southern Living Style.

The sham is over!

When we go shopping for linens the stress and confusion can overpower the excitement of it all. I know what a dust ruffle, sham, and duvet are, but thread count, ply, matelasse, percale..those terms can persuade me to break out my acting skills. Not knowing the terminology that backs the world of bed linens can be embarrassing at times, but more importantly, it can cause you to purchase something without knowing if it’s what you want or need. SFERRA has come to our rescue and will allow us to hold our heads high while we shop for our new 500 thread count (that’s 500 threads per square inch), Egyptian cotton (A variety of cotton, grown in the Nile region, known for its extra long staples, and is the finest quality in the world) pillow cases.

SFERRA educates us on the “anatomy of a bed” and gives video tips for learning how to care for your linens properly. They tell the importance of changing your bed with the seasons, how we can improve our bedroom comfort, and they even discuss hints for folding a fitted sheet. My friend, Ronda Carmen, creator of www.AllTheBestBlog.com first told me about SFERRA's thread count tips.    It's always so difficult to pick out new sheets while getting lost in the labels of linen language.  Thank you Ronda because the SFERRA site's section on bed anatomy taught me to add a blanket between my sheets and duvet for warmth and color, and we should welcome accents like a cashmere throws (or any soft blanket) to our clean, monochromatic bedding.

Here is what I learned from SFERRA's Loose Count Video:

Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch.  The higher the count, the better right?  Well, not exactly!  There are really four more important elements to take into consideration: wieght, fiber, finish and feel.

Weight - Weight preferences can vary from season to season.  I like a light sheet almost year round in Texas but if you live in a cooler climate, you might want to select something heavier in the winter.

Fiber - The finer the fiber, the finer the sheet.  Egyptian cotton is the best!  Look for that label when buying new linens.

Finish - A linen's texture, color and softness are all developed during the finishing process.  Most luxury linen companies keep their finishing techniques top secret and it is really considered an art form!

Feel - Everyone's taste is different so put some thought into the feel that you are longing for.  I love sheets that are "angel soft" but I have friends who prefer real linen for it's crispness!  What do you like?


If you still need more clarification on your bedding vocabulary, check out SFERRA's bedding glossary.

Centsational inspiration for ready set redesign!

I have seen few things as impressive as this! Yes, Martha Stewart is phenomenal and genius with home design, but I've discovered an individual who is truly centsational!


Spelled correctly, Centsational Girl, is a blog written by Kate, ex- attorney and a mother of three, turned DIY blogger. A recent Centsational Girl blog post that caught my attention was her entry that was completely dedicated to spray painting. One can of paint will transform your thrifty finds into one-of-a-kind pieces...as long as you follow Kate's instruction, of course.Take a look at this tired looking chair on the left. Can you believe the gorgeous white chair on the right is the same piece? That is, after Kate got her crafty hands on it!


And this charming French- style nightstand...

[before]

[after]So aside from being temporarily stunned, mesmerized, and impressed by these images, I was also inspired by the tips and answers that Centsational Girl shared with her readers. Here you can find out more about spray painting projects and if you find one you like you may want to make a weekend out of it! For now, here are some of the tidbits that I found most helpful and fun!

When we imagine spray paint the first place we probably imagine it is on the outer brick walls of dilapidated buildings, but after reading Centsational Girl I was enlightened! Spray paint can be used on plenty of surfaces other than the one mentioned above. When Kate was questioned about the types of materials that can be transformed beautifully by spray paint, here is what she responded with:

• Plastic, metal, fiberglass, mirror, glass, wood, wicker, masonry, plaster, concrete, canvas, ceramics, MDF, laminate and particle board.

Her tips on how to avoid messy drips were also helpful. Instead of using one thick coat of spray paint, it's much more effective to take the time to paint two thin layers. The way I think about it is similar to the way nail polish works. One thick coat looks terrible and you can tell it was done unprofessionally but two thin layers look fresh like a brand new manicure!

If you've had experience spray painting but didn't find much success then Centsational Girl has wonderful tips for how to bounce back and recover! For cracks, wrinkles, bumps, and bubbles, Centsational Girl suggests a coat of oil based primer.

For this and more creative ideas and inexpensive options visit Kate. She really is sensational!

*Now, if you are someone who has had experience with DIY decorating- not necessarily just with spray paint- then I have exciting news for you! Dwell with Dignity is having their first national fundraiser, Ready Aim ReDesign . A before and after furniture face lift contest that goes to a great cause and the winner reaps fantastic benefits! Visit their site to hear more about this wonderful opportunity.