Need some curb appeal?

Wow, I cannot believe it’s been so long since my last post- sorry ya’ll but it’s been a dizzying past few weeks. My dear grandmama’s beloved dog passed away and my husband was treated for kidney stones; so needless to say I haven’t had much time to think about decor! But now that life is nearly back to normal and summer has officially hit Florida-  I’ve gone back to my old wheedling ways. And lately I’ve had curb appeal on my mind.

Generally when we hear the phrase: “curb appeal” we tend to think of a Real Estate ad but why should we beautify our homes only when they’re on the market? True curb appeal should be about enjoying the outside of our home as much as we do the inside.

Now, if you’ve been visiting my blog for awhile ya’ll will notice that I’m a frugal gal who can’t afford tries to find a bargain- I also like a quick fix since my mama did not bless me with the gift of patience! So, here are some easy and cheap ways to give your home a face lift.

PORCHES

If you’re one of the lucky ones who owns a home with a porch then you’ve got a leg up on the rest of us since your home already comes with a space designated for outdoor living and ambience. Porches are also the perfect place to give passerby’s a peek into your personal style and are fun to decorate for the holidays or to stage for a place to share a cup of coffee in the morning. So utilize your great space by investing in some weather resistant furniture (One word: WICKER!) and surround yourself with both hanging and potted flowers for an instant garden.

FOLIAGE

What house’s curb appeal would be complete without the right amount of greenery? Now, if you live in the south like little old me- then you know the importance of finding plants that are both heat and humidity resistant; but my advice to everyone (even you yankees!) is to invest in quality seeds or seedlings by heading to the garden center and finding plants that work best for your budget and style. Timed sprinklers and mulch can also help to cut down on maintenance.

FRONT DOOR

Although we’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover- when you have a fabulous front door then you’re sure to make a great impression and unlike plants or porches- anyone can open a can of paint for an instant update. And if you’re really looking for a statement then completely replacing an exterior (or even interior) door can really change the entire look of your home. Personally, I love the quirkiness of a true vintage (or vintage inspired) door and I think I may have a slight obsession with french doors.

WREATHS

Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas anymore and for those of us without a porch (a.k.a me!) adding a wreath can be an easy way to celebrate the seasons and dress up a blah space. If you’re not interested in traditional wreaths you can add a floral catcher like the one below or you can whip out the hot glue gun and create a sea shell, chalkboard or burlap creation. Etsy has some great one of kind wreaths and if you’re ready to DIY then head over to Pinterest for inspiration!

MAILBOXES

Your mailbox might not be the first thing you think of when you start sprucing up your curb appeal but if your mailbox is falling apart or downright boring then it might be the perfect place to begin. Case in point: There is a beautiful craftsman style home down the street from us that I absolutely love but the fact that their mailbox is bent at a 35 degree angle detracts from the gorgeousness of the house. A great mailbox can make even an old house look fresh. And don’t forget to plant some flowers at the base!

THE PICKET FENCE

Nothing makes a home look more classic and cozy than a white picket fence. Especially for smaller homes that lack space for a big statement- a fence can turn a condo or cookie cutter track home into an instant cottage. And if you’re still looking for that porch that the builder forgot to include then adding fencing along your stoop can create the illusion of one- just don’t forget to add a rocker and a pitcher of Sweet Tea!

Well, that’s all for tonight folks! I hope you got some great ideas for making your home look it’s best. I’m working on some ideas for a summer mantle so…

Ya’ll come back now!

Rachel

What kind of chic are YOU?

Hey Ya’ll,

Hooray it’s May! Did you ever hear the expression April showers bring May flowers? Well, whoever said that must have been raised north of the Mason Dixon line because May is monsoon season in the southeast which means rain…and rain… and well, you get the picture. But all this rain sort of makes you feel clean and renewed. And along with spring cleaning I feel like spring = redecorating! Now, my style is traditional shabby chic all the way which means white slipcovers, salvage architecture pieces like vintage windows and corbels and lots of floral accents. But on my pitiful streamlined budget I usually like to redecorate by moving items around the house first in order to create some fresh vignettes. But c’mon now, you know that won’t satisfy all of my redecorating lust and since I’m always on the look out for pieces to flip and sell in my little shop-  I hardly ever  usually end up finding a new little treat for myself.

But to make sure my house has continuity I try to focus my wish list on a specific theme. Since summer weather starts in April here I usually start to add some beach flair into my shabby abode. But let’s forget about my wish list and while I’m serving up some virtual sweet tea and coca cola cake (my favorite!) you can think about what kind of chic you’re looking for. Not sure? Well, then follow me.

Shabby Chic may be the Chic (pronounced sheek for the newcomers out there) that started it all. But there are quite a few off-shoots to satisfy an array of decorating styles. And what they all have in common is casual sophistication paired with vintage accents.

So let’s began with the Chic that’s closest to shabby:

COTTAGE CHIC

Cottage Chic is defined by a more is more motto giving the illusion of a collection that has grown and evolved over the years. Popular in decorating small spaces where you want your collections to evoke a timeless homey quality- Cottage Chic employs all the same elements as Shabby Chic but with more colorful textiles (usually pink, cream and a complimentary color such as a robin’s egg blue or light green). It is believed to have derived from the quaint cottages styled in Britain and Ireland where humble homeowners wanted to give a style reminiscent of the grand estates.

Now if you’re thinking nope, less is more for me then there’s also a Chic for you. Doo doo de doo! (Or is it Dun dun da da?) There’s also…

SWEDISH Chic

Swedish Chic (or Modern Chic as it is sometimes called) is defined by minimalist lines and clean open spaces. Think Ikea meets a farmhouse in Germany. This style may have the distressed or shabby quality to some of it’s accents but the focus is really on a spartan palette of white mixed with quality natural woods. Swedish Chic can employ funky elements such as antlers or industrial accents, often mixed with geometric prints such as stripes. Popular textiles are cork and reclaimed pine.

Still haven’t quite found a chic that’s totally you yet? Well, if you are thinking about adding some of that original Shabby Chic but don’t know where you’d put it- how about heading outside to…

GARDEN Chic

Garden chic is all about using your outdoor space as an extension of your overall living space. If you’re like me and have a real honest to goodness cottage sized home (You mean the kitchen shouldn’t be the same size as the bathroom?) then you might be looking for some more square footage- and prettying up your patio or porch might just might give you that entertaining area you’ve been fantasizing of.  (I also especially love giving discarded or broken furniture a second life this way.)

You mean you still haven’t found your chic niche? Well, if you’re looking for less frill and romance and more gender neutral styling then the next Chic might be the one for you!

AMERICANA Chic

Americana Chic is all about the ol’ red, white and blue and taking Shabby Chic to Main Street USA.  This is also a great style for rooms that you want to transition from  lacey and feminine to more husband/boyfriend/kid friendly. And if you aren’t ready to commit to these colors for everyday use then you can always get inspired to stock up on a few pieces for Independence, Memorial or President’s Day.

Now, I love to mix a little bit of this and that (and that over there) into my style but this next Chic is one I really love to incorporate into my own decor since I’m just a beach baby at heart  (just don’t ask me to put on a bathing suit!).

BEACH Chic

Now Beach Chic may seem easy peasy- just set out a few sea shells and a couple of mermaid signs, right? Nope! It’s actually one of the hardest styles to get right because it can look way too cutesy very fast. To keep your theme looking coastal instead of kitschy try to think outside of the sea star box and incorporate nautical accents (boat knots, vintage model ships, real coral and sand in a hurricane glass) on top of a neutral color palette with only one or two pops of color.

Now if you’re all about uber sophistication a’la The Hamptons or London’s Hampstead then these next two Chic’s will knock your socks off!

EURO Chic and EQUESTRIAN Chic

I’m linking these two styles together because they both hearken back to the days of Country Estates.

Euro Chic and Equestrian Chic remind me of the black and white Hitchcock movies (Think Rebecca or North by Northwest) where the rich heir or heiress used to keep their secret uranium stashes hidden behind old cricket trophies. Highlighted by dark rich tones such as natural leather, suede and plaid layered tartans; these styles are perfect for dens, family rooms, libraries and those of you with actual vacation homes (I wish!).  And one major upside is that these styles are often as popular with men as with women. (So tell your hubby his mancave can be masculine and classy!)

Last but not least is the simplest Chic of them all!

VINTAGE Chic

If you’re still not sure you want to commit to a certain style or are simply just beginning your vintage collection then Vintage Chic will be an easy style to keep your home feeling pulled together. Simply group like minded vintage items in small vignettes such as on mantles, side tables or on hutches and shelves. Groupings usually look most elegant in odd numbers (I stick with three) but the smaller the size the larger the grouping is the best rule of thumb.

Some of the cheapest and easiest collections to begin are old photographs, cameras, linens and china. Don’t be fooled by trendy antique malls that sell these items for a pretty penny- whether you’re a novice or a seasoned collector- your best bargains will come from thrift stores like Salvation Army or Goodwill and garage sales. (And don’t forget you can mix in some modern pieces for a quick decor fix!)  Vintage Chic is like adding icing to a cake- a little goes a long way but some of us like alot!

So, whether you’re romantic and traditional or funky and minimal I hope you found your Chic! As for me, the rain has started again and I just have to finish the last few minutes of Sabrina (Can I come back as Audrey Hepburn in my next life- please!)  before I snuggle off to bed…

Check back soon for my next post- which will cover a little thing called curb appeal.

Ya’ll come back now,

Rachel