Blonder Ambitions

Category: Design

  • Room Lust – Living Room

    I love my current living situation… Huge sofa (however, it is a hideous color and needs a slipcover), a 52″ television, and a ton of space.  I also have an abundance of leopard print vintage pillows that were custom made… Killer statement pieces.  Now I just need to finish it up… and I think I have found the purrrrfect things.

    1. Midnight Courtyard Curtain $108
    This will look gorgeous around my huge picture window.
    2. Simply Shaby Chic Cotton Duck Sofa Slipcover $99.99
    The solution to make my sofa look up to date and to really show off those vintage leopard throw pillows.
    3. Mohawk Home Tufted Starch Shag Rug $59.99
    I am a gigantic fan of the shag rug. The bigger, the better.
    4. One-Lump-Or-Two Lamp $198
    Too cute. Such a statement piece with so much personality.
    5. Dancing Pleat Shade $128
    Perfect to top off the lamp. The square shade is so unexpected.
    6. Fluffed & Flaunting Pillow $98
    Cozy and glamourous.  Throw this on the couch.
    7. Glass Accent Table $89.99
    Mirrored this, mirrored that… I can’t get enough.  I’d put one of these on either side of the couch… But each would have a different lamp.  We don’t want things too matchy matchy or your guests will feel like they’re in a catalogue and not your living room.
    8. Mirrored Coffee Table $149.99
    Drool. Put a statement vase and bright flowers (i love pink roses) on this.
    9. Bibliotek Vase $59.99
    Could this be any cuter? I’m a bookworm, so this is perfect for my place.

  • How To: Make a Candy Station

    ♥ Every good party has party favors.  Why not let guest make their own sweet creation?  Decorate a table with different sized bowls and jars and stack them at different heights for visual interest.  Provide the guests with clear plastic bags and twist ties.  Let the festivities… and sugar shock… commence ♥

    ♥ Use whatever glassware you already have.  Different sizes and textures add to the charm ♥

    ♥ Make customized labels to make the table more fun and to let guests know where to find their favorite candy ♥

    ♥ You can stick with only one or two colors of candy or mix it up.  It’s up to you ♥

    ♥ Wicker baskets and apothecary jars are inexpensive but pack a lot of visual punch ♥

    ♥ hand-made details add extra charm ♥

  • Who Puts Books in a Bookcase?

    This bookcase was old and in a scrap heap ready to go to the dump.  It was dark wood with a ton of stains.  I added a coat of primer and then two coats of Rustoleum’s Heirloom White latex in a can.  After I had a white bookcase, it still didn’t have enough character.  I took some scrapbooking paper with a pattern that appealed to me and used double stick tape to adhere it to the back of the bookcase.  After that, a few of my favorite pairs of shoes, some piggy banks (a girl has to save her money!), handpainted vintage leopard print martini glasses, and some of my favorite photos filled the case.  All my real books are on shelves by my desk.  This is where my pretty books go.

  • How To: Design a Tablescape

    My friends are always asking for tips and tricks on how to organize a fun and festive table.  First, pick your color scheme.  It can be anything.  Don’t limit yourself to what you think should go together… Go with what you like.  For this table, I picked blue, pink, and bright yellow.  I also wanted the overall feel to be chic, yet whimsical.  To achieve a lighthearted feel, mix patterns.  I mixed florals, stripes, and polka dots.  Remember, the only rules are the rules you make for yourself.

    ♥ Add fun and inexpensive touches to your table that go with your color scheme.  To highlight my love of bright yellow, I used lemons, candy sticks, and store bought lemon tea cakes put on a silver platter to appear homemade (cut corners and save time!) ♥

    ♥ Flowers are a great way to add pops of color (and fragrance) to your table.  Hot pink roses sandwiched between lemons inside mason jars were a perfect accent piece ♥

    ♥ I designed all of the menus myself.  Menus and place cards are a perfect way to bring all of your colors together in one place, helping the table to appear cohesive.  Don’t be afraid to mix different fonts and different size fonts.   If you don’t have the knack for graphic design, check out pre-designed menus and invitations online ♥

    ♥ Make sure there is plenty of stemware on your table.  You want your guests to feel welcome… and the more they drink, the more fabulous your decor will look! ♥

  • How To: Make an Inspiration Board

    Inspiration boards are vital.  Visual imagery is an important motivating tool and can also instantly improve your mood, drive, and outlook… Take a corkboard, some images, quotes, photos, anything that you love and tack it up.  The beautiful thing about this is that your inspiration board can change daily.  Fill it with whatever strikes your fancy.

    I covered my board with some of my doodles, favorite photos, cards from people that I love with encouraging words, my icon (Marilyn!), and ticket stubs that remind me of some fabulous events and concerts that I’ve attended.  Cover yours with whatever gets you going.

  • Room Lust – Bathroom

    My bathroom is currently undergoing a bit of a makeover… formerly a bright (hideous and nauseating) blue, I painted it a deep high gloss chocolate brown. I hung a dramatic chocolate brown painting of Marilyn Monroe on the wall. I bought a deep brown wicker basket embroidered with “Laundry” in gold thread and a simple brown and gold décor set.  I normally don’t like things that are so “matchy,” but the simplicity of the set works.

    The items below would complete my bathroom by adding drama, glamour, femininity and whimsy… essentially the elements that a woman should be able to incorporate into every room.

    1. Bustled Shower Curtain $118
    I’d use it as a curtain for my french door that leads outside to the pool. So feminine. Love it.
    2. Isola Bella Bathmat $38
    Cozy and elegant for wet, shower scrubbed toes.
    3. Lock & Key Hand Mirror $32
    I’m dying. It’s a hand mirror. And a key. I love this kind of stuff.
    4. Crystalline Bubbles Perfume Bottle $48
    Ideal in the windowsill… old-fashioned and will grab a ton of sunlight.
    5. Provence Society Perfume Bottle $38
    So sophisticated.
    6. Nestled Ring Dish $10
    A lady always needs a place to put her baubles when she washes her hands.  Adorable.
    7. Diving Bell Trinket Box $38, $78
    Great accent pieces.
    8. Fairy Tale Jewelry Holder $128
    Too cute. Great statement piece for the counter.
    9. Kailyn 5 Light Chandelier Lamp $299.99
    Every girl deserves a chandelier.  Why not have one in every room in the house?