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Month: March 2015

DIY Hand Painted Wood Sign (using chalk transfer) #LOVEYOURHOMECHALLENGE

Hi there!  Today is a very exciting day.  Not only am I going to share an awesome, easy-peasy DIY project + tutorial, but I also have news about an incredible + talented person you might happen to know.

First to the latter… my sweet + uber-talented friend Melissa of The Inspired Room wrote a book which is being released today called Love the Home You Have (< affiliate link).

Love the Home You Have by Melissa Michaels

It is the first of many that she’s got lined up and it’s less about decorating and more about falling in love with your home & what you have now… today.  Some of the topics include: taking care of your home, finding beautiful in the simple things, finding balance between beauty and mess, using what you have to decorate, arranging furniture, decorating with things that mean something to you, finding contentment, and so much more.

If you recall back to last years Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 2, Melissa started off the series with a bang and shared her poetic + inspirational words.  There is not a person more deserving to share thoughts of such meaning and beauty.

To kick off the launch of her first book, Melissa has put me to a challenge along with a bunch of other Blogger friends and has asked us to showcase a project using the 31-day LOVE YOUR HOME CHALLENGE section in the back of her book.  So fun!

31-Day Love Your Home Challenge from the new book Love the Home Your Have by Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room

Similar to Melissa, I feel that our belongings should honor and reflect who we are, where we are from, and what we love.  A house is the shell, but it’s what we create in the shell that makes it a home.  For my home and the homes that I work on with clients, I always strive to create something that is a reflection of who resides there.

As I am slowly making progress on my living room makeover, I want to adorn the walls with not only prints that I love & have special meaning, but also DIY art that I create.  When this ‘challenge’ came up,  I knew it would be the perfect time + opportunity to share with you a recent creation…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

The previous owners that resided in our home, had a pool table in the basement.  While making some changes to create a basement that works + functions for us, I came across a cue stick holder that was tucked away in a closet.  Aside from a few cobwebs in the corners & screws hanging out, it looked like something I could totally make into something else.  An upcycling project was calling my name!  I left it in it’s place, but never forgot about it.  DIY ideas flurried through my head over the months and then I had an ah-ha moment while creating the new room.  It would be perfect for a big ole’ sign & with the 3″ lip, when hung it would create a ‘ledge’… almost like a knick-knack / chachka shelf to display collectibles from trips… we always grab a little something from places we visit to remember our experience – something cute to continue ‘our story’.

I thought and thought about the perfect quote to create on the cue stick holder-turned-DIY art and then Good Morning SUNSHINE came to mind!

Every morning when the kids wake, I always say “Good Morning Sunshine” in this over-the-top, probably annoying-to-them voice.  But it’s just what I do and it’s become a ritual.  I just feel like it’s a great, cheery way to start the day.

how to make a HAND PAINTED SIGN USING CHALK

1. To start, I used a new Word doc and created the words to a size I desired (about 4.5″ high), then printed them (I used gray scale on a fast printing setting so I didn’t waste too much ink)

These are the fonts I used:

> GOOD – Pottery Barn font

> MORNING – Honey Script font

> SUNSHINE – Century Gothic font

Once printed the words, I cut around the edges…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

2. Before placing the paper on the wood, I flipped it over to the back and rolled on the chalk from edge to edge so the letters on the other side would be covered. A colored chalk, like red, works best!

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

3. Then I positioned the paper on the wood and taped down the edges so it stayed in place.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

3. Using a pen (I found it was better than a pencil because of the hard tip), I traced over the letters.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

And voila, when you lift the paper, the outline of the letter (or design) can be seen…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Here’s the overall design embossed on the wood…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

After that, it was time to paint.

Because each word was a different font, I didn’t want to go crazy with different colors as well, but at the same time I didn’t want all one color, so I chose to create an ombre effect with the words starting with a very pale yellow for GOOD, then a light yellow hue for MORNING, followed by a vibrant yellow for SUNSHINE.

I used basic, inexpensive craft paint – wall paint or anything similar would also do just fine – along with a thin brush to be sure to stay within the lines (as much as possible).

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Perfectly in the lines wasn’t important…  Imperfect actually is perfect!

From start to finish, the overall project took about 2 hours to create.  This is who it looks done & hung on the wall…

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Keepsakes from our travels sit on the ledge of this once cue stick holder, now hand painted sign.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.comI love how it came out and it truly makes my day a bit sunnier, right SUNSHINE?!

Along with the cute wood sign on this wall, I also added a few of Melissa’s illustrated quotes from her new book + website, and hung them with colorful washi tape.

DIY tutorial: HAND PAINTED SIGN using CHALK to transfer design onto wood.   An easy + inexpensive technique to transfer letters or a custom design.  Easy-to-follow step by step by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

If you’re interested in seeing what other Bloggers created for the #LOVEYOURHOMEchallenge, here is everyone that is included and if you head over to visit Melissa there will be links to all the projects.

Love the Home Your Have - #LOVEYOURHOMECHALLENGEIf you’re interested in joining in on the fun too, Melissa would love to have you share your own Home Love challenges on her new community site Home Love Stories.  If you’d lik, use the hashtag #LoveYourHomeChallenge to follow along and/or share your story.

The new revamped living room is really coming together – finally – and I can’t wait to share the reveal with you very soon!

Planning + Creating an Art Wall

It’s been over a month and there’s been nothing but crickets on the progression of the living room makeover (2 months to be exact).

I guess you could say that I lost my momentum with many other things going on…  By this time last year, I had tackled a slew of diy projects + 2 room makeovers.  All while pregnant. This year, I shared details on the proposed living room space and then nothing – FOR 2 MONTHS. Whether it was nesting or not, this year my game is totally off.  It may be non-motivation with this wicked weather, but honestly I think it’s more distraction and lack of time.

February was an overly busy 28 days. Not only was I in full-swing with 2 client projects, but I was also working on styling + producing my first 2 stories for Do It Yourself magazine. The experience was awesome and I hope to do it again, but it wasn’t just physically exhausting, but emotionally challenging too.  I felt so much pressure, self-induced like always.  And I won’t even go into my lack of time with 3 kids, one of which is now a full-on crawler…  Hello time sucker.  Her pure cuteness is just utterly distracting.

Anyway, as we say by-bye to month 3 and head into April, I am getting my butt back on track and finally getting this living room back-in-business and finished.

So the new charcoal sofa I ordered was delivered last week {squeal} and against the lighter gray/blue toned wall, it’s a striking contrast.  With the slanted ceiling which is 8′ at one side, and rises to 12′ on the other side, the wall behind the sofa is vast.  And vast begs for drama!  A few pretty pictures won’t do…

I was truly challenged with this blank wall!  There were so many ideas racing through my head – go symmetrical?  how about a family photo collage (but we have SO MANY photos already around the house)?  one large print?  multiple random prints?  DIY something – a map. maybe?

So many ideas, but what would look best + be meaningful + give the drama this space needed?

After much thought & planning, this is my plan of action

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

For my new art wall, I chose to turn to Minted, an online art shop filled with creations by independent artists.  To put it best… “Minted uses technology to allow consumers to discover great creative talent, making Minted a place where artists can learn, gain exposure, and build their businesses.”

Custom art is unattainable for many because of budget + resources, so Minted connects artists with those looking to fill their walls with beautiful, meaningful custom creations.  A nice bonus is that many of the prints are limited edition art so they only run a certain amount of prints – so you & your neighbor won’t have the same decor on the walls.

This is what the sea of wall currently looks like…

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

After going through the Minted site over and over and over (no joke, it took me days) finding what prints I loved most (goodness it was difficult), I then figured out what sizes would work best & in what configuration.  After some time, I created this mockup…

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

I also used my AutoCAD program to get the sizing + proportions just right.  This is the drawing I created…

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your homeIt was time to make these ideas a reality… 

Using brown kraft paper, which I had left over from Christmas wrapping, I cut out the sizes of the proposed prints. Wrapping paper or newspaper could also work – no need to buy anything, use what you have on hand.

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

Then I arranged the kraft paper on the wall (yes, a few looked a bit wonky) as I worked it out on the mock up…

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

Once I put the standing floor lamp in place, I realized the shade would really block the large print, so I decided to reverse the design…

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

Yes, better!

I didn’t actually remove the paper from the wall, but when the prints arrive and I am ready to hang them, I know I will make some tweaks including reversing the design, adding a bit more breathing room between the prints, and hanging them slightly higher on the wall above the sofa.

To be honest, I have never did a mockup like this before, but if I hadn’t gone through the exercise of doing it, I don’t think I would have nailed it (hehe, no pun intended) the first time.  Mistakes would have been made, which results in more time spent!  By creating the mock-up placement of the prints, I can see how the art collage will layout best & hopefully save on time and wall repair.

Once the artwork arrives and I hang it, here is how I envision the wall to look… we shall see.

ideas & tips for Planning + Creating an Art Wall in your home

Interested in these prints?  Here’s the info…
Down Under the Brooklyn Bridge
Snow Dancer
Blaze
Calculation
Gesture
Let’s Get Lost
NYC Map (gold foil)
Bits

My tips for creating an art wall you will love.

> Start with one large piece to be the ‘anchor’ for the art gallery wall

> Bring in other art in varying sizes & orientation – not all one size, not all horizontal or vertical!

> Keep at least 3″ between art for breathing room

> Create a continuity/common thread with the art, but mix it up by using 2 or 3 different frames

> Balance the art on the wall – don’t visually hang all ‘heavy’ art on one side & smaller on the other.

> Have fun. Display the unexpected.  Showcase what is most meaningful to you.  Let your art tell a story!

Other posts on creating a gallery wall that may be helpful:

> Gallery Wall Ideas to Transform Any Room
> Useful Ideas and Layouts to Create a Photo Gallery Wall
> Creating a Photo Wall Display

Recap…

IDEAS + TIPS for Planning & Creating an Art Wall in your home.more on the living room makeover coming soon… I promise!

Disclosure: Upon reaching out to Minted, I am thankful that they chose to work with me since I love their limited edition print selection so much.  I have been provided with product, but as always I was not told what to write and I only feature companies on my blog that I truly love and believe in 100%.

Freshen Up The Home for Spring

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Yes, there is still snow on the ground.  Yes, the temps are still only in the 30s.  But it’s officially SPRING!

It has been a looooong winter with a cycle of sickness that our party of 5 can not seem to break out of.  Thankfully, with 50s in the forecast for later this week I am feeling happy + hopefully that Spring is on it’s way and that of course means I am feeling the itch to freshen up our home for Spring.

As Spring starts to spring (hehe) and we begin the process of coming out of hibernation, it organically feels like the best time of year to freshen things up.  To bring in the spirit of the season, here are some of my favorite spaces for Spring that I am pulling inspiration from…

INSPIRING SPACES.

Living Room, Dining Room, and Bedroom spaces filled with a white backdrop + pops of coral, tangerine, yellow, and turquoise – all perfect hues for Spring leading into Summer. Images via HomeditFreshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.comA dreamy desk for any gal!  via m{pression

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Light & airy is ideal for Spring!  Fresh pops of color in greens & blues makes this breakfast nook so inviting by Heather of At the Picket Fence.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

More color + texture in the breakfast room by YHL.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

White + black + layers of color make this a favorite space of mine for Spring.  Black can be intense, but when incorporated in small doses, it can give incredible depth to a room! This amazing space was created by the gals of Classy Clutter.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Master Bedroom with soft hues + floral by Hi Sugarplum.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

And of course, Spring means flowers and a home filled with flowers of the season is incredibly warm + inspiring…

via BHG

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

For even more inspirational spaces decorated for Spring, you must check out my favorite Pinterest board, Inspirational Spaces & Vignettes!

Freshening up doesn’t mean go out and buy more!  Seasonally, I may snag 1 or 2 new great decor items (that I can’t live without), but I often recycle / restyle what I have on hand to create new vignettes (who really wants to buy more + spend more $$$).  It’s amazing how moving things from one room/space to another makes them look like new!

If you are on the search (or want to shop your home) for a few new things for Spring, every room can come together in a snap with these 6 perfect picks

1 / Pillows bold hues mixed with softer Spring tones will make your sofa perfect for season.
Try hues of coral, pink, mint, and gray for a refreshing pick-me-up.

2 / Mirrors the perfect layer to make a space feel larger. 
Try one large mirror on a wall or a collection in varying sizes.

3 / Vases from the mantel to the coffee table to the desk, one vase filled with your favorite flowers or a collection in multiple tones, vases are a beautiful + inexpensive way to update a space & give depth, height, and color.

4 / Curtains changing up curtain panels for the season can give a room an instant update.  From heavy herringbone for the winter to a light & airy floral, a space can feel like Spring in no time & for little money.  On a tight budget? DIY new curtain panels (give this tutorial a whirl) or try using a flat sheet in a pattern you love.

5 / Plants whether real or faux (as long as it looks good), plants or flowers instantly give a fresh look + feel to a space.

6 / Trays my love for trays will never die. I am a tray addict (I have way too many & all are my favorite) because they are not just functional, but give color + texture + interest to a space or vignette.  A tray can break up a vast coffee table surface or can help keep a bedside table organized with books, reading glasses, and more.

Here are my 6 must-have layers for the Spring season in action…

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Resources: Paris Map Wooden Tray / Diamond Wooden Tray / Geometric Tray / Floral Print Pillow / Nate Berkus Embellished Printed Pillow / Graphic Print Pillow / Velvet + Linen Pillow / Taped Solid PillowPurple Vase / Mercury Vase / Textured Glass Vase / Climbing Vine Curtain / Pink + Orange Ikat Curtain / Wood Circle Mirror / Capiz Mirror / White Orchid / Succulent / Faux Fiddle Fig

Whether you prefer a minimal modern lamp or a traditional print in paisley, these 6 favorite accessories will absolutely create the layers for a freshened space for Spring.  Whether the living room, family room, or bedroom, these items are ideal to make any room in the home instantly come together – you won’t go wrong.

BHG Kitchen + Bath Makeovers COVER Feature: Year 2

I am so excited to share that for the second year in a row, a kitchen project that I designed is on the Spring cover of the Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publication, Kitchen + Bath Makeovers.

How is this possible?! Even though I’ve had over a dozen features in various BHG magazines, the thrill never diminishes. It truly is a pinch-me-moment ever time!

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

My last experience collaborating with BHG on a kitchen makeover was fantastic and to see the result on the cover was incredible. From having a project featured in that magnitude, so many doors + new opportunities opened for me. That magazine hit newsstands just about a year ago and shortly after that, I was asked back to do it all again, for this years Spring magazine – magazines work long in advance. If you remember back a year ago, I was about 5 months pregnant at the time. The editors new that and were overly accommodating. I said, as long as we can wrap it up by early June, I’m on board. They were on board too and the ball started rolling from there…

Upon finding the right kitchen that was in desperate need for a makeover, Donna Talley – stylist + producer for BHG – and I partnered to create a makeover that was not only beautiful, but also budget-friendly and had many strategic storage options + ‘look for less’ details.

I love seeing + sharing behind the scenes footage and what goes into the end result, so let’s dissect…

The ‘before’

The ‘before’ kitchen was cramped & completely not functional. The space was of an okay size but with very limited cabinet space, a refrigerator wrongly positioned, and traffic flow problems, a lot needed to change.  Here are a few before pictures…

Pictures of the 'before' kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Not only were the cabinets dated, but functionally there was a lot of unused space above the upper cabinets. The base cabinets weren’t much better. After working with an architect on a few structural questions, we decided to remove the walls @ the pantry and open up the pass through space to join the kitchen + dining space.

Here was the Creative Vision Board I created for the kitchen + dining room…

The mood board for the proposed kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The mood board for the proposed kitchen & dining room featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

In the end we went in a slightly different direction for the fabrics & layers, but the general aesthetic + style remained. Here are a few outtakes on the options discussed…

Kitchen Palette

Kitchen Palette

In the end, this is what was chosen & is what is seen in the magazine feature…

Kitchen Palette

At the same time as the materials + selections were being finalized, I was also working on the architectural drawings of the design, which included the floor plan and the various room elevations needed to execute the fabrication of the cabinetry. This is pretty much the same steps I take for all clients that I work with on a kitchen makeover.

Architectural Drawings…

Architectural drawings for the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Architectural drawings for the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Once the drawings were finished & everyone was on board, about 2 months later construction started and the makeover transformation was in process.

Progress pictures of the makeover…

Pictures during construction of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

In the end, this was the result captured through my lens.

The Result…

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The new cabinets were fabricated by MasterBrands – the island is a teal hue, while the upper + base cabinets are a soft gray, and the “pantry” is the same soft gray with a glaze overlay.

Here’s a detail of the “pantry” that we created using stock cabinets…

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The island is quartz an I was pleasantly surprised by it’s beauty. Before seeing the overall slab, I was planning for it to be faux looking (a knock-off granite or marble), but it wasn’t at all. The veining & movement of the slab was gorgeous. It’s a material I will definitely use again, especially as an alternative to marble since that can be difficult in a kitchen.

Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The transformation was incredible and I loved every step of the 1.5-month construction process leading up to photoshoot day which was in mid-June (and less than 2 weeks before I gave birth to baby #3 – thankfully we finished in the nick of time).

As always photoshoot day is typically mayhem, but Oh SO EXCITING. On the pages of the magazine, all looks calm & serene, but most of the nooks & crannies around the main shot are just the opposite.

Photoshoot day…

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

All the props + styling are credited to Donna Talley who produced & put the story together. Michael Partenio was the photographer for the shoot.

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

As I mentioned last year when sharing behind the scenes details, I find it incredible how much work goes into creating each shot. The space is overall beautiful, but the added pop layered in through accessories makes the room on the pages of the magazine come alive.

My pictures don’t honestly do a justice. The magazine shares much more beautiful angles + details, along with more of the story about the homeowner & the space. It’s an issue you will absolutely want to pick up. Plus a few of my blogger friends are also featured including Rhoda of Southern Hospitality, Brittany of Pretty Handy Girl, and Marian of Miss Mustard Seed.

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Last, but not at all least, I couldn’t design a kitchen without a central command center and this one does not fail!

From my CCC (that was featured in BHG), to last years kitchen with a CCC, and now this one – all of them are so different.

Also in the magazine, a few tips are shared on how to clear the clutter and how it’s stated, “Jenna is on a mission to replace those piles with command centers”…

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

So fun! I hope you enjoyed a bit of the behind the scenes details of a kitchen makeover for a magazine. Fingers crossed more opportunities will come about in the future!

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

How I Get Inspired + Finding ‘Me’ Time

Disclosure: The post is part of the social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group, All You, and Real Simple but all opinions are my own, #pmedia #SpringintoMeTime http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”

Manageable + Realistic ways to carve out 'me time', get inspired & renew your life...

Happy Monday my friends!  It is early, early on this first day of the week, but I am feeling ready to tackle the days ahead. The Mister & I got away this past weekend and even though it was for a mere 24 hours, taking a step away from the everyday was exhilarating + rejuvenating!

We’re often pulled in so many directions that carving out time for ourselves – me time – can be a struggle.  Our care + needs are often put on the back burner, while we put much of our time & attention on our children. From the moment I wake around 6am I am on the move, not only getting myself ready, but dressing my 3 kids, making lunches, preparing breakfast, and making sure all is set for the day.  A little before 9 we’re all out the door – kids to school, the baby to the sitter (a few days a week), the mister to work, and me to meet clients. After a full day on the road, the routine of mom mode begins again around 4 and by the time the kiddos head to bed at 8, I am pooped & don’t last much longer. On a daily basis, the hustle & bustle around the homestead leaves really no time for relaxing, quietness, and rejuvenating. That being said, I wouldn’t change one minute of it all, because my family is everything to me.

As I mentioned earlier in the year that for 2015 my focus is to live more with intention.  I’ll tell you, it hasn’t been easy, but that’s life and I feel if I keep it my focus at the forefront of my mind, at least I am working on it and that is something to be proud of.  I am continually trying to work towards strengthening myself and to do that, I’m realizing that it means carving out time for me.  The time away this weekend really showed me that I will be a better + stronger person for myself + others if I take more time for me.

For my job as a designer & blogger, I have to continually be inspire. Even though I find inspiration in the everyday beauty that surrounds me, I often have blinders on with so many distractions.  My eyes just can’t capture it all and I am missing what’s beautiful – big and small.  Carving out me time to get inspired, is important to stay fresh and on top of my game – physically, emotionally, and mentally.

As the mister and I got away from the everyday daily grind to focus on ourselves and each other, we realized we hadn’t been out together by ourselves in over 10 months, which is crazy. We went away to one of our favorite B & Bs about an hour away and laughed  + talked as were dating again.  It was so enjoyable and mind clearing.  And we relished in the quietness.  We actually drove home completely quiet and we both loved it. It was great to just clear the mind and take in the beauty of my surroundings.  I was inspired by so much around me.  The architecture.  The people. The smells. The food.  I just soaked up the many details all around…

Finding inspiration in the beautiful details around us. A few photos I snapped while at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA… so many details.  so much beauty!

During our downtime I got some moments to flip through the pages of Real Simple, one of my favorite magazines, that I picked up at Target last week before our trip.  There were of course some delicious looking recipes that I am dying to try, but also some inspirational articles on creating beautiful spaces.

Ways to find inspiration & Renew your life...

It got me thinking and I immediately snagged my notepad to jot down some ideas on what I am going to start doing for myself… thoughts on what I want to focus on.

1. Schedule my Time Better.  We’re all pulled in 92 directions at the same time and I rarely say no (#1 should really be to learn how to say no more), but I want to become better at scheduling my time by creating realistic work – home hours. I’ve tried to “balance” my work/home life, but honestly what does that mean? Some days I work way too much and some days I don’t work nearly enough, but in the end it all gets done, I guess…  Instead of walking around like a chicken with its head cut off, I think creating/writing a schedule that is suitable to get it all done will help me stay on track and focused.  I bought a calendar at the beginning of the year with a to-do list for each day – I’m going to use that starting NOW!

2. Don’t Obsess.  I’m a bit of a perfectionist and sometimes need to just let go. The house doesn’t have to be spit-spot clean every day. Recently I embraced some new cleaning regiments to make our home feel cleaner quicker and that has really been helping.  With 3 kids a clean / organized home 24/7 just isn’t possible.  I’ve been designated the 30 minutes before the kids get home to straightening up the house that way when they walk through the door, the focus is on them & their homework.  I really like giving them my 100% attention when they get home from school.  I feel that is important.  Cleaning can wait.

3. Do it NOW.  Often the thoughts that linger in my head are those of things that I need to do, but haven’t yet done – Sign my son up for baseball, call my Aunt, make an appointment for a physical, get an oil change.  Again those 92 different things that have to be done.  I am absolutely going to stop thinking about doing them and instead either do them RIGHT when I think about it or make a to-do list, so the thought leaves my brain allowing the opportunity for more inspiration to filter in.

4. Plan Ahead.  Planning ahead is huge.  One of my big downfalls as of late is meals.  Lately, I’m often found looking in the refrig/freezer at 4:30 for what I should make for dinner. Those nights, I become so stressed because I end up scrambling and the result is often pizza or something I really don’t want our family to eat.  On days when I plan ahead, and I take chicken out to defrost the night before, or better yet, put something in the crockpot at 8am, goodness our nights are so much easier + happier.  This means, planning ahead makes everything run so much smoother.

a few more easy + manageable ways to change + renew your life.  all things I am working on as well…

> read more – trashy. fact. fiction.  who cares, but just read more.  Maybe join a book club…

> eat breakfast – on the days I don’t eat breakfast, I snack and not on good food.  breakfast is important.  eat breakfast.

> say no – saying no can be hard.  learning to say no is important.  say no.

> stop watching the news – the news is an inspirational sucker.  I just can’t deal with the sadness.  news is important, but I never feel good after watching it.

> take a shower – shower + dress every day, even when you have no place to go. it’s important and you really do feel so much better!

> smile – smile. smile more. smile a lot.  it’s important to smile for others but more so for you.

> accept perfect now – today is perfect.  embrace the beauty now.  tomorrow is a gift.  this moment we are living in is the most important.

> rid the guilt – don’t hold on to something that’s not worth the time or effort.  if it’s eating at you, fix it.  if you tried, let it go.

> eat good – real food is so important.  eat good.

> free the mind.  do yoga. meditate. just be. do what is relaxing to you.

> write it down.  keep a notepad closeby.  always.  write it down.  rid it from your mind.

Those are just a few thoughts + ideas of what I plan on focusing on throughout the year to come.  It’s amazing how easy they seem, but how hard they can be to implement.  I am feeling so refreshed + inspired after my time away this weekend and it already has the Mister & I talking about our next get away.

How do you carve out me time? How do you get inspired?  What is your focus for the year?

>>> Deal Watch!

If you’re looking to unwind & spend some “me time” for yourself, right now you can Save $2.00 at Target when you buy any TWO (2) participating magazines titles (All You®, Real Simple®, PEOPLE®) from 3/15-3/28 while supplies last – what a fantastic deal.

Also, Save 15% on select special issue magazines which include PEOPLE® Crimes of Passion, National Geographic® 100 Journeys of a Lifetime, TIME® Mark Twain, LIFE® Lincoln while using the Target Cartwheel app. Available until 4/17/15, while supplies last.

Savvy Storage Solutions using Baskets

Baskets – for toys, laundry, books, and more – are great storage solutions to beautifully organize and give a stylish edge to any space in the home. Baskets not only can control the clutter, but also add a pop of color + texture.

As I look around my home while putting this post together, I realize I have a lot of baskets – all are so different because of the unique purpose each serves.  With so many basket options out there in stores + on the web, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide on what will work best for your needs & space.

Here are my favorite baskets for the many spaces + uses in the home.

Savvy Storage Solutions using Baskets: Basket resources for the linen closet, shelves, laundry, toys, and more!  Inspiration + Tips on choosing the best basket(s) by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.com

Resources

> Laundry

Yellow/White Stripe Hamper / Seagrass Basket  / Natural Drawstring Hamper with Border / Nesting Floor Baskets

> Linen Closet / Bathroom Storage

Bamboo/Jute Basket / Wire Utility Basket / Teal Basket  / Yellow Folding Storage Bins

> Shelf Storage

Wood Storage CrateWire Baskets / Emory Basket / Green Lidded Box /

> Toys

  Half Tone Basket / Alphabet Floor Bin / Mercado Basket  /  Yellow Lattice Bin

Aren’t those some beauties?!

All so colorful and unique…  All serving a different purpose!

When on the search for a basket or a collection of baskets, there are a few things to keep in mind…

Purpose / Use

Keep in mind the purpose of  the basket(s) and/or the intended use.  A collection of photos would be best in a smaller + shallow basket / bin, whereas storage for blankets is ideal in a larger + roomier style.  Toys can often be the most challenging items to contain because of the amount and the vast range of sizes.  Have multiple baskets for different sized items. Look for a basket/bin that is deep with a wide opening for larger items (hampers work great for these types of toys), while smaller baskets are perfect for items like Legos, figures, etc.

Savvy Storage Solutions using Baskets: Basket resources for the linen closet, shelves, laundry, toys, and more!  Inspiration + Tips on choosing the best basket(s) by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.comWith these fun + bright lattice baskets, there is finally a reason to let toys take over!

Size

Depending on what you want to hold will help determine the size of the basket needed.  From large to small depending on the use – towels versus toys – there are a range of shapes and sizes.  Some have flat bottoms, others are rounded.   Some baskets stack, while others can “nest” in each other which will give you a collection of varying sizes. Know the approximate size you need BEFORE you start your search.

Savvy Storage Solutions using Baskets: Basket resources for the linen closet, shelves, laundry, toys, and more!  Inspiration + Tips on choosing the best basket(s) by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.comI adore these woven baskets with a pop of blue – perfect for the bathroom or linen closet

Durability

Who wants to buy something that will fall apart in a short time?  Not me!  Baskets can be pricey, but purchasing something that is durable + will last long makes more sense than wasting time & money buying something twice.  Look at what the basket is made – plastic, cloth, wood, jute – for the purpose of your purchase. Keep in mind who is using the basket.  Plastic bins like this are great for toys (easy-to-clean & will keep their shape), where this seagrass basket is the perfect catch-all for laundry.

Savvy Storage Solutions using Baskets: Basket resources for the linen closet, shelves, laundry, toys, and more!  Inspiration + Tips on choosing the best basket(s) by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.comHow fun is this stenciled wood crate. Perfect for the living room shelves to hold CDs, pictures, or your old vinyls!

Color

There is such an amazing selection of storage baskets on the marketplace and not only do they serve the incredible purpose of holding things, but they also bring color + texture + layers to a space.  Adding depth with accessories & layers, is the key to making a room warm + inviting + whole.  No matter what the function, baskets are ideal for bringing a fun pop of color to a space.  Whether on the floor or on the shelf, the addition of colorful basket to hold toys, books, or blankets, can truly enhance and change a space.

Savvy Storage Solutions using Baskets: Basket resources for the linen closet, shelves, laundry, toys, and more!  Inspiration + Tips on choosing the best basket(s) by Jenna Burger Design, www.jennaburger.comColorful baskets, like the fun style made of balsa wood found on the shelves of this cabinet, not only corral trinkets + toys, but they add depth & texture too.

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I hope I’ve inspired you with all the possibilities that baskets can bring to the home… not only for function , but also for style!  If you want to see more options specifically for toy storage solutions, pop on over to My Daily Bubble where I am sharing 11 more favorites

11 Options for Stylish Toy Storage

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint

Warmer days are upon us – I just saw mid-40s for next week –  and that means the start of spray painting season!

As an avid DIYer, I have spray painted just about everything and anything.  From baskets to fabric, from lamps (like this one) to furniture, nothing in my home is safe from being revamped with a new coat of color.

When it comes to spray painting, there are a few tricks-of-the-trade to achieve a successful result, but with some practice & patience (and a few tips from my blogger friends), you’ll want to revamp every surface in sight!

Not sure what to spray paint? Here are tips for 5 types of surfaces to tackle using spray paint.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

Wood Furniture

Whether a dresser, chair, desk, or armoire, most all furniture can be revamped and livened up with a few fresh coats of spray paint.  You’ll be amazed how a new color can completely change the look and feel of something that was old and drear.  After a quick sanding, it’s always best to first apply a primer coat, then you choice of color.

5 Easy DIY Projects Using Spray Paint

Diane of In My Own Style refinished her dining chairs and chose to use a 5 different colors – orange, yellow, blue, pink, and turquoise.  What a fresh, happy update!

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

This is a before & after chair I restored after finding it on the side of the road a few years back…

BEFORE & AFTER CHAIR MAKEOVER USING SPRAY PAINT + A GLAZE FINISH

Upholstery

From an ottoman to a wing back chair, another project to tackle using spray paint is upholstery.  Crazy sounding, but it’s true.  Recovering an upholstered piece of furniture can be costly (a typical wing back chair could cost about $600+), but for many who are on a budget, it’s an affordable and fairly easy way to get the result at a fraction of the cost.

If the fabric covered piece is in good condition, well built, and has good lines, then spray painting to change the upholstery color should be a fairly manageable task.  Here is a beautiful side chair makeover using spray paint – the pop of color with the bold blue is an incredible update.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramicCeramics

Because of the slick surface, ceramics can be challenging to spray paint.  To achieve a great result, it’s key to use multiple thin coats and lightly sand the surface between coats using sandpaper or very fine steel wool.  Wipe the surface clean again and spray another coat.  A glossy finish is most durable when spray painting ceramics.

Jennifer of Dimples and Tangle achieved a great result with her spray painting revamp after scooping up an inexpensive garden stool and totally changing the look to a desired white.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

Fabric (curtains)

Custom curtains can be expensive, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting the look you want.  DIY curtain panels (all of my window treatments are do it yourself creations) can be achieved on a tight budget and spray paint can often help with getting the desired look for less.

Stripes (any size, horizontal or vertical) are the easiest and most manageable style curtain to make when using spray paint.  Maury of Life on Mars chose to create a wide horizontal striped curtain panel for her bedroom in a vibrant, yellow hue.  The result is gorgeous.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramic

Metal

Despite dirt and rust, if a piece has good bones and is well built, it most likely can be rejuvenated with a few coats of spray paint.  With the array of color choices, you can truly take something from blah to beautiful with a little elbow grease and a few dollars.  When spray painting a metal surface, it’s important to sand down the surface and then use a primer.  The more your sand and smooth, the better the result.  If your style is more rustic / vintage, then sanding less and showing the “chippy” side of a piece is great, but for a modern aethestic, a slick / shiny surface is best.

From a bar cart that most people would steer clear of to a chandelier ready for the curb, these are two amazing metal pieces transformed with spray paint.

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramicBar Cart redo by Monica of Living in Vogue featured on Design Sponge

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint: How to spray paint wood, metal, upholstery, fabric, ceramicSpray painted brass chandelier by The Little Green Notebook

You can truly spray paint anything! If you’ve never spray painted before, give it a try – here’s a tutorial.  With the arrival of Spring in only a few short weeks, now is the time to get thinking about what you want to revamp first.  From furniture to home decor, using spray painting is an affordable and fairly easy way to update anything!

6 Ways to Make a House Feel Instantly Clean

Clean is such a great word, isn’t it?!

When something is clean (or tidy) it puts a smile on my face.

As a working mom of 3 who is hustling + bustling 24/7, finding easier ways for getting things accomplished around the house has become my way of life!  My motto #keepitclean the easy way…

When Bona, the industry leader in floor care products, reached out to me about sharing my favorite tips + tricks for keeping my home clean, I knew it would be a perfect time to share my housecleaning secrets (and my love for their floor cleaner since I already owned it).   When friends + family come over, I totally have them fooled thinking I’ve spent hours mopping & scrubbing.  hahaha.  No more are the days with endless hours for lengthy, lavish meal prep or saturday mornings scrubbing the bathroom & cleaning the floors till every surface is spotless + gleaming.  From skating lessons to baseball, from playdates to grocery shopping, my time is limited, so cleaning typically doesn’t get top priority.

To make the most of the precious hours I have for housecleaning (which is pretty close to 5-10 minutes a day), I have come up with some time-saving techniques and smile-making strategies that make my home look like I spent hours scrubbing every surface – boy do I have y’all fooled…

Tips + Tricks + Secrets to make a house feel instantly clean (and showroom ready)!  It only takes a few minutes a day...

1. Reset the House

In my OCD days, every room was spit-spot clean every moment of the day.  With 3 kiddos now, that’s impossible and I am fine with that (actually happier to be honest – I am still working on living with intention and embracing our beautifully imperfect home), but I do like our pad to be clutter free if possible especially when the kids go off to bed.  Each night about 10 minutes before bedtime, they “take a tour” and tidy up / put away / throw out any toys or papers that are lying around.  For our littlest lady, I pitch in to help.  Picking up the toys, clearing the clutter, and filing away papers + bills each night before heading to bed only takes 5-10 minutes, but it’s such a small amount of time to get the house back in order to keep it under control.

Reset the house... 1 of 6 ways to make a house feel instantly clean (and showroom ready)!  It only takes a few minutes a day...

In our home, 7 pm is round em’ up, clean up time…

Reset the house... 1 of 6 ways to make a house feel instantly clean (and showroom ready)!  It only takes a few minutes a day...

I’m fine with toys + papers out & about all day, but it feels so nice when the kids are off to bed and everything is put away and then to wake up the next morning to a fresh, clean space.  Of course, it won’t stay like that for long, but for the small amount of time it is something to treasure.

2. Chore Day

Doing a little each day is better than doing a LOT one day.  I have found matching a specific chore with a day of the week has been a lot more manageable than letting everything pile up to tackle all at once (which used to be the weekend and who wants to clean on the weekend? Not this gal).

Mondays – laundry, Tuesdays – bathrooms, Wednesdays – floors, and so on… By designating a specific task on a specified day, everyone in the house knows what to expect and it allows everyone to help pitch in (the incentive of allowance will probably also help).

My go-to for learning this method was Becky of Clean Mama.  She has a lot of great posts on creating a cleaning routine.

Create a cleaning routineHouse Cleaning made EASY!3. Clean the Floors

In our home, I have chosen Wednesdays for floors, but honestly I vacuum almost every day.  The floor just never seems to be without crumbs.  For years, I used a steam cleaner for the wood floors, but about 4 months ago I gave up on it because of the length of time it was taking (longer than my alotted 5-10 minutes a day).  I ditched the clunky steamer for the Bona Hardwood Floor cleaner.  I would never go back!

This is the product I use and just look at that before & after…

Clean the floors - one of many Tips + Tricks + Secrets to make a house feel instantly clean (and showroom ready)! It only take a few minutes a day...

I will tell ya, I have used what I thought was similar handheld spray cleaners before, and there is no comparison.  This floor cleaning “mop” is a little more expensive, but SOOO worth the cost.  I can now clean my hardwood floors in my alotted 5-10 minutes! #winning

With everything in our home, I try to go green, but with my easier is better approach, sometimes I have to compromise.  When I gave up the steamer, I wasn’t thrilled about using yucky chemicals BUT was pleasantly surprised when I found the Bona products because they are non-toxic and GREENGUARD certified. SCORE! They have solutions for not only hardwood floors, but also for wood furniture and stone/tile/laminate – all making cleaning EASIER – there’s that fabulous word again

No more crumbs.  No residue.  Just gleaming + clean floors!

Clean the floors - one of many Tips + Tricks + Secrets to make a house feel instantly clean (and showroom ready)! It only take a few minutes a day...

Here is a fabulous $3 off coupon (click over to print out – this is not the actual coupon)

$3 off coupon for Bona floor products

Whether you are a hard-core cleaner (I’m so not!) or the type who quickly wipes the dust away (yes, that’s me raising hand), everyone approaches cleaning a little differently.  With the angst of spring cleaning right around the corner, opening those windows & getting ready for spring is top on my list! Here’s a fun chance to look at your cleaning personality with Bona’s #KeepItClean Personality Quiz.  Take the quiz and get a chance to win a Bona Hardwood Floor Mop Express, as well as a year of cleaning services for your home and the Grand Prize: a trip for 4 to Hawaii! The thought of a trip to Hawaii sounds amazing right about now…

4. Everything has a Place

From stray buttons to paperclips, designate a specific spot for everything in the home to take away the guessing game of “where should this go?”… which only wastes more of your precious time & energy.  Using baskets, bins, bowls, and boxes choose a place for everything.  Be gone with the junk drawers.  Once you take the time to organize & set up the space for those little but necessary things, there is no extra time needed in your every day schedule to deal with it.

For me, this step is still a work in progress but with the ‘everything has a place’ mindset, the guess work and thinking has been eliminated.  Shoebox tops, cereal boxes, and other similar cost-free items make great organizational holders. Check out this organized drawer by Jen of I Heart Organizing

Cereal Box Drawer Dividers to stay organized!

5. Ask… (and if all else fails, Delegate)

With a little time & teaching, kids can help and often want to help (and if they don’t, then delegate – you want XYZ, then help out).  Starting from a young age (it’s much easier than asking them to start helping when they’re 10), have your kids help out around the house.  From the smaller tasks of putting away the toys they take out, to sorting the colors vs. whites, to cleaning out the dishwasher, kids 3+ can help out around the house.  I have found with my kiddos, they are very proud when they help with a task or do something new.  At 8, he knows how to wash dishes, unpack the dishwasher, sort/fold his laundry.  I find the more they do, the more they understand how long tasks take.

Have the kids pitch in - one of many Tips + Tricks + Secrets to make a house feel instantly clean (and showroom ready)! It only takes a few minutes a day...

6. Wash the Dishes & Make the Bed

2 simple + easy tasks that will instantly make you feel better & put you at ease – wash the dishes & make the bed.  As soon as you get out of bed, make it right away.  It’s amazing how much happier I feel throughout the day when I walk into my room and the bed is made… Instant Smile!  Same with the dishes – when I walk by the sink and there is a pile of dishes, it’s like they are calling my name- “wash me, wash me”.  Instead just do them throughout the day instead of letting them pile up to be a heaping mound by days end.  Make breakfast, do the dishes. Have a snack, put the plate directly into the dishwasher.  After lunch, clean up the 1-2 plates.  Again, a little is faster to complete & easier to manage.

Make the bed - one of many Tips + Tricks + Secrets to make a house feel instantly clean (and showroom ready)! It only takes a few minutes a day...from my master bedroom refresh last year

Being honest here, my bed (and overall room for that matter) does NOT look this pristine on a daily basis, but it’s what I strive for…  Sometimes having a mental image (or an actual picture) can help the process of cleaning / tidying up be faster + easier + more manageable because the result & smile / happiness it brings throughout the day will be worth the effort!  Even though at the moment I often feel my house is a wreck, I can look back at pictures and know the potential for beauty is there if I take the few extra minutes to jazz it up.

There really is no miracle solution to cleaning the house in 5 minutes, but these are the easy + manageable ways I use on a daily basis to make our house feel clean + look tidy!

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HUGE Giveaway!

Don’t miss out on the chance to win a trip to Hawaii OR house cleaning services for a year! Both would be amazing – which would you want more?  Play to win by take Bona’s cleaning personality quiz.

 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored post by Bona #BonaBuzz #KeepItClean.  I was compensated for my time to use the products and to share my thoughts + opinions. I was not told what to write and I only feature companies on my blog that I truly love and believe in 100%.

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