Delight in the Sunlight

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Surfer Style

Summer brings many images to mind ... swimming pools, barbecues, frozen drinks, trips to the beach. Adding some summer style to your home can be as simple as adding colorful pillows in your den. Or you can "catch the wave" of a popular trend in home decor - surfer style!

Surfer Style on Polyvore

Bunk room - Apartment Therapy

Retro den - Poppytalk

Surfer bedroom - Casa

Surfboard kitchen decor - My Domaine

Colorful bedroom corner - My Domaine

Black and white accent - My Domaine

3-D art - PBteen

Beach bum bedroom

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

An Organized Laundry Room

A laundry room remodel is still high on many homeowners' "to do" lists, including mine. A fresh coat of paint is a good starting point, but my laundry room needs so much more. Number one on my list is organization! Inspired by friends' tidy rooms and grander spaces on the internet, I can visualize the room of my dreams. But my second need would be keeping it straight for more that one day! :)

Laundry Room on Polyvore

Open shelving - Storganization Blog

Baskets & trays - Better Homes and Gardens

Cottage cabinets - Beautiful House Ideas

Vintage-look organization - Ballard Designs

A retractable clothes line - Better Homes and Gardens

Organized for ironing - Better Homes and Gardens

Labeled plastic baskets - My Blessed Life

A laundry room is an essential part of life.
Life is messy. But my laundry room doesn't have to be!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Pink and Gray

When chosen well, colors can add a powerful quality to your home, according to the teachings of Feng Shui. But combining colors can also be a tricky mix in home decorating. Two of my favorite combinations are pink and gray. I love pink for its soft feminine quality and gray for its sophisticated styling. According to "Home Design with Feng Shui", pink can improve the aspects of love and inner truth, while gray can aid confidence and harmony. Colors can connect your home with the blessing and treasures of life. So experiment with the colors in your home - and be blessed!

pink and gray on Polyvore

Living room - Susint

Home office - Infarrantly Creative

Sweet bedroom - Restoration Hardware

Sophisticated dressing area - Tidbits and Twine

Bedroom makeover - Country Living

Vintage-inspired vanity & mirror - Tidbits and Twine

Friday, June 5, 2015

Retro Home

"Retro is the new modern," advertises Big Chill, a company that sells retro-inspired kitchen appliances. And their ad campaign is absolutely true. The nostalgic look is becoming increasingly popular in home design. Here are a few examples to help you add some "retro vibe" into your space.

Retro Office - Polyvore

Living room - decoist

Teen bedroom - House to Home

Pastel kitchen - deceits

Summer patio - Vixie Von Vintage

Colorful den - decoist

Home office - Jab

Retro bedroom

Retro Kitchen - Polyvore

etsy

Friday, May 29, 2015

Farmers Market

Farmers Market on Polyvore

Visiting our local farmers market is a highlight of summer.
I love supporting the local growers while
supplying my family with healthy produce.

Here are a few tips to help you choose the best that
your farmers market has to offer:

Blackberries & blueberries - the bottom of the container
should be dry, not moist or stained.
The berries should be ripened and plump, not squished.

Cantaloupe - Use your nose. It should have a distinct melon aroma.
And it should be firm and round.

Cherries - look for flexile, bright green stems

Okra - Find a small bunch (under 5 inches).
If it's long and tall, the okra will be tougher.

Sweet corn - Buy early in the day.
It looses its sweetness sitting outside all day.

And finally, get to know the vendors.
They can answer your questions and provide many tips.
Then enjoy shopping at your farmers market
as you "buy fresh, buy local"!

Monday, May 25, 2015

Coffee Station

As a hardcore coffee addict, I would be overjoyed to have my own coffee station. Currently, my "coffee station" is a simple Mr. Coffee machine - sitting next to my Betta fish bowl - on a small corner of the kitchen counter. It's not very stylish, but I can dream...