Guest Post! ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: Fern Pattern Inspiration...

I'm finally back from vacation and ready for some inspiration! This is Heather Elizabeth Design's first guest post.  Here is a writer from Arcadian Lighting on fern pattern inspiration. A little 'green' product for your Monday morning :) Enjoy!

Hi there! I’m Joanna, a guest writer for Arcadian Lighting, a premier online source for every style and finish of lighting fixtures. I create guest posts such as this one for lovely design blogs. I’m passionate about anything and everything interior design. I love collecting decorating ideas and images like the ones below. Today, I’m posting about fern patterns for the home. With eco-friendly interiors in mind, decorating with nature-based elements is easily accomplished. The following images should inspire some fern patterned décor ideas for you.  

   

Fern-patterned wallpaper creates a sense of drama and elegance in this petite powder room. 

 Tiny art of different types of ferns create a pretty gallery wall. These particular pieces are the result of a DIY project. 

 

Three prints of fern curls look terrific above a black buffet. The green contrasts with the black frames. A lighting fixture above or sitting on the console would be a nice touch.

 

Eco friendly fabrics for the dining room have their own interpretive fern pattern. I like the block prints coordinating with the table accoutrements. 

 

A lovely tufted chair boasts a charming fern and bird pattern. This chair would look quite lovely in a nature-themed living room or bedroom. 

 

A colorful paper features a flowering fern print in this contemporary living room. The differing green hues creates a cohesive space without being repetitive. A fun light fixture sits beside the sofa. 

 

Adding fern patterned pillows to a bed, chair or sofa will give the room a natural feel.

 

A delicious looking chocolate cake decorated with wood and leaf accents sits in front of fern patterned wallpaper. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 I hope you enjoyed my mini obsession with fern decor and don't forget to check out Arcadian Lighting for some great floor lamps for your next fern inspired room.    

Thanks, Joanna for jump starting our creativity this week. Of course my favorite is the black & white fern wallpaper.

Happy Designing!

Heather

ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: IKEA part one...

Happy May everyone!! It's an absolutely beautiful day in Georgia. 

I'm going to make May the month of.... IKEA.... yes you've heard me correctly.  IKEA, the decorating super-affordable super-store!

 There is definitely a love hate relationship with IKEA in the design industry. Some complain they've had quality issues with the product and I've even heard their product labeled as "throw away" furniture... yet when done right, it's so incredibly affordable and stylish. I own several accessories from IKEA and even a platform bed that's used in my guest room. Now, I'll admit it's not solid hardwood but it's cute, clean, and has lasted 6 years, three moves, and it's still going strong! This alone got me thinking about why I haven't visited there more often...especially when clients opt-out of accessorizing because it's not "in the budget". (No excuses since there is one just around the corner from me.)

 More & more designers and consumers alike are trying out their accessories & furniture to help create a stylish room with little dollars. I do believe that our two worlds designer vs. affordable can coexist. I have found some amazing inspiration from Maria Killam's blog Colour Me Happy and as always I'm eager to share.

Part One: Inspiration using real IKEA product

 

RIBBA frames creating the gallery. $9.99 each

These can be painted any color to match your decor,

you can also change out the matting to create a customizable look.

 

These two are Jonas desks from IKEA. I no longer see that one listed but I do see the BESTA which is similar for $99.00

Great choice for this happy office!

 

Sideboard BESTA BURS piece featured in 2nd photo. $399

The chrome table lamp compliments this piece perfectly.

 

A good example of how designer items can be used together with lesser expensive items. 

This home owner splurged on very expensive designer pillows and got these awesome Karlstad chairs from IKEA! $349 each...and it looks so expensive.

 

A room that was to be featured in a design magazine... guess where this dining table is from? You guessed it, IKEA's BJURSTA dining table for $199 that even has two leaves that extend the table to seat up to 8.  The chairs are from Pier One. This proves you don't have to break the bank to create a beautiful room.

 

Close up of the dining table and chairs. I would suggest a glass top be cut for this table if it was for every day use. Our local craft store, Hobby Lobby, cuts glass for very inexpensive (usually $100 or less).

Four BILLY Bookcases $79.99 each.

 In the photo above this designer painted the back panels blue and added molding pieces on top and between each to create a large bookcase instead of four individual ones.

 

Boys room featuring IKEA window treatments, lighting, and rug.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of us out there that do not have the money or connections to spend $1000's on updating our homes. That absolutely does not mean we shouldn't live in creative, beautiful spaces!

Stay Tuned for...

 Part Two - Creating a fresh & stylish room using IKEA.

and

Part Three - My trip to IKEA where I'll be your virtual shopping assistant :)

And of course for more advice on how to create a room on a budget, see this post.

Happy Designing!
Heather

ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: Picture hanging arrangements...

One of the most commonly asked questions is how to arrange pictures, paintings, or family photos within a space. I found these guides on Pinterest and thought they were certainly helpful whether you're a DIYer or a professional designer and need some inspiration.

When I have several pieces to arrange I will usually cut out paper (to scale) that represent each piece and mess with them a bit before I commit to an arrangement. If I'm actually at a client's house & have pictures in-hand, I like to lay them on the floor or a table until I get it right.

annbeckphotography.com

photoshop-templates-for-photographers.com

brendaknightphotography.com

(many more arragements on her website)

I hope these help you with your arrangements & I'd love to hear or see photos of your own home photo arrangements.

For more home ideas and inspiration, click here.

Happy hump day!

Heather