I've got the blues...

Well, if you've ever picked out paint colors for your home, you know what a daunting task that can be. I mean, all you wanted was a nice, cool grey-blue paint color for your living room, and somehow you ended up with a periwinkle blue that completely clashes with the rest of your home decor! Sound familiar? I know the feeling. But it does help that I get to help clients pick out paint colors for a living, and have done a good bit of painting in my own home, so I thought I might share some of my VERY favorite blue colors I have used thus far. And if you have any to add, please do! I am particularly partial to pale blue (is there anything more peaceful??), so excuse me if my paint colors lean that way. But I do have some suggestions for a darker blue if you're into that. So anyways, here they are, enjoy!

Sherman Williams-- Rain

Sherman Williams--Moody Blue

Sherman Williams-- Tidewater

Sherman WIlliams--Watery

Sherman Williams--Comfort Gray

Sherman Williams--Gris

Pittsburg Paints--Tempered Steel

Restoration Hardware--Silver Sage

Benjamin Moore--Heavenly Blue

Benjamin Moore--Colony Green

Benjamin Moore--Patriot Blue

Benjamin Moore--Paddington Blue

Oh, and the pic at the top is of my guest bedroom where I used the color "Tidewater" from Sherman Williams.

Clean is the new black.

So yesterday on Oprah they talked about an issue that serves as one of my core decorating principles: keep it clean, people!! It seems that sometimes, over the years, the trinkets and gadgets that have been acquired as gifts or vacation momentos tend to build up so much that they end up all over your house, and that is supposed to be home decor! This happened to me while I was in college. With all the University and Sorority swag I was given, one day I looked around and felt like I was drowning in stuff! So whenever I got married I decided it was time to bite the bullet, get rid of all of the things I didn't NEED, and start afresh! It was therapeutic to say the least.

So anyways, Nate Berkus was on Oprah yesterday and helped "makeunder" an over-cluttered, under-decorated living room of a woman in Louisiana. I must say, it was so inspiring that I know that many women across the country could benefit from a similar "purging" of...well...crap. Take a look at the before and after pictures (before is the 1st pic, after is the 2nd) and be inspired to do the same in your home! Get rid of what you can, store some of the things you can't part from, and give a mini-makeover to the stuff you are going to keep on display. I know you can do it!!

To see more pictures of the makeunder, visit oprah's website: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Nate-Berkus-Den-Makeunder/slide_number/8#slide

Get the cottage look for less.

Personally, I LOVE the cottage look in a home. Not over the top, but just a nice flair. If you're looking to get that cottage flair in your home, here is an easy and affordable tip that could transform a room, or a ceiling. It's called bead board, and can be bought at Home Depot and installed easily and without blowing your whole budget. One of my favorite places to apply it is on a ceiling, especially a vaulted one. We recently added white bead board at my parents house in their guest bedroom, and I gotta tell you, it added so much to the room! We painted the walls a gorgeous blue color which set it off so nicely. Pair it with some white bedding, crystal knobs on the cabinets/dresser, an antique chandelier, and voila! You've got a lovely cottage bedroom! I'll have to take pictures and post them once the room is finished. Some other great ways to use bead board are as a wainscot in a bathroom, living area, or dining room, as a backsplash in the kitchen, as wall paper, or on the back wall of your cabinets where you can display your dishes in front. You can stain it, paint it white, or paint it a fun color such as a soft blue or pretty green to really set it off. Above are some pictures of great uses of bead board.

Who doesn't love a good mirror?

Ok, so if you're like me, you love a good mirror and love what it can do for a home. Well, while recently shopping, I found this really cool mirror at Pier 1, only to find that it's on clearance ($40)!! I love how mirrors can add so much beauty to a room, while often helping to open a room up, AND giving you an opportunity to check your make-up right before you walk out the door! So many good uses for a mirror! This particular mirror is great because it can be used in a traditional setting, with muted yet elegant colors (like in the picture below taken by an interior design company in Houston, TX), or it could be used in an eclectic room with lots of bright colors and/or patterns. Go snatch yours before they're gone!

What we're about...

My name is Annie Houston, and I currently work for a residential remodeling company, Ron Houston Renovations, owned by my father-in-law. I am also an aspiring interior decorator, and I absolutely love anything involving home decor. There is something just so great about "home", isn't there? It's the shelter you go home to everyday, the place you re-charge your batteries, the place where you entertain friends and make your favorite meals. To me, a home is what you make it. How do you want people to feel when they walk in the door? How do YOU want to feel when you walk in the door? The way we decorate our homes influences these things. It's a way to express ourselves, and explore our creative side. Don't we women enjoy a little creativity every once in a while? I know I do. I hope that with this blog I can help you feel inspired to do the things you've always wanted to do in your home, to really reach down deep and find your inner Martha Stewart. On this blog, we can share our favorite paint colors, recipes, home decor stores, and much more. Now I'm no expert, but I am probably just like you: a woman who wants her home to be a haven, and really enjoys the process of making it that way. On this blog, I'll provide tips that hopefully you'll find useful in your decorating journey, little things that make a big difference. My desire is that as we progress, you'll truly feel, "There's no place like home".