"Meet Sarah Macklem" Over at Ballard Designs~Win $3,000

Yesterday was awesome (it was the first day of the Finding Fall Home Tour). 

However, today is pretty cool too.  I'm being interviewed over at Ballard Designs Style Studio.

Click here to visit me over at Ballard Designs and don't forget to say hi while your there.  

When Ballard asked me to help them celebrate their 30th Anniversary by creating a pin board for their Pin it to Win it contest, I immediately began pinning my 30 favorite Ballard Designs pieces.  Click here to see how the contest works and how you can win $3,000 in Ballard Bucks!  Good Luck!  

Thank you for having me Ballard Designs and Happy Anniversary!

 Be sure to check here, each day for an updated list of The Finding Fall Home Tours.  Today, it's Thistlewood Farm, Hooked on Houses and Jones Design Company.  This is going to be a fun week filled with fall inspiration from 16 different homes ending with Better Homes and Gardens! 

For information on my online design service, please click here.

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Gorgeous, Classic, Navy And Khaki

A quintessential color palette {navy blue and khaki}, traditional style furniture and equestrian art come together as the trinity of classic style in today's featured online design plan.

Our goal in this space was to create a timeless family room punctuated with a few unexpected design elements. This space is understated and elegant, but definitely not boring.

If this room were a person...

{source}  

The design began with this large graphic horse print from Ballard Designs.  It will be the perfect focal point over the sofa.

{Ballard Designs}

The chair selected for this space has a slim profile and a contemporary pattern.  The amazing navy blue denim fabric keeps it feeling casual.

Slightly distressed finishes and natural texture baskets keep the room comfortable and welcoming. 

An unexpected, dramatic painted ceiling treatment is also in the plan.  This element along with a few well placed, colorful accessories will give this overall classic space an edge.  

  We provided two great options for furniture arrangement...

These versatile pieces allow the freedom to switch up the furniture placement anytime they crave a change.  

 

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

Thank you, Jennifer for inviting me into your home. 

I enjoyed working with you and this project was a lot of fun. 

Who am I kidding, all projects are a lot of fun!  

To reserve your affordable, custom online design plan, please click here.  

Holiday Home Series: The Art Of Hanging Stockings

Welcome back to The Holiday Home Series.

I try really hard to keep projects simple, easy and uncomplicated.  Today, I am going to take a break from that and I'm going to complicate the act of hanging stockings, in a simple way.

I like my stockings to hang straight and full (not flimsy).  I'd like to share how I achieve this in case there is anyone else out there with the same fetish.  

Most people have stocking holders, I don't.  I use painters tape to secure them to the top of the mantle.  My mantle display covers the tape. (Santa removes them before filling them).  

I begin hanging them in the middle...

and work my way to the sides to keep them centered.

You can see here how they are limp.

 The solution...plastic grocery bags.

  I lightly stuff each stocking with 3 plastic grocery bags...

Now they are full...but crooked.

Can't stand that either.

  By twisting the loop a few times in the opposite direction that the stocking wants to turn, it will magically hang straight.  

(Stockings from Ballard Designs)

  

Voila, straight, fluffy, balanced stockings.  Tomorrow,  I'll demonstrate how to create a festive mantle display on the cheap.  

Thanks for visiting!

To view the entire Holiday Home Series, please click here.

For information on my affordable online design services, please click here. 

Linked up to:
Home Stories A to Z

Black Mantel

Potted Amarilys "Before"

Potted Amarilys "After"

Fireplace "After"

Every year, after the Christmas decorations come down the house feels so sterile. This usually spurs a change of some sort. This year it was the mantel. It got a fresh coat of black enamel and it really made a difference.

I came across these potted Amarilys on clearance for $1 each. I brought them home and re-potted them in clay pots. Aren't they a pretty little Valentines accent?

Thanks for all feedback and comments. I have really enjoyed visiting all of your blogs as well!