diy mama

lifestyle blog sharing diy, family, travel, organization & disney tips

home decor

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House Tour

Hello friends! Today is an exciting day for me because I’m finally posting a house tour! I have wanted to take photos of my home forever but always had an excuse (too messy, too busy, not a good enough photographer etc).

IMG_6226I will always have these excuses but wanted this moment in my life documented exactly as it is.
Mid projects and mid life. I didn’t buy beautiful flowers or fruit to stage my home. I didn’t even dust (shh.) I picked up a bit and will later show you the ‘5 minutes before the shoot photos’ but other than that, this is what our home looks like. Lived in.

This will be a photo heavy post. Would you like a coffee? We also have martinis. Perhaps I could concoct a mocha martini of sorts? Since you are my friend, and not a solicitor or boy scout, I’ll bring you in through the garage which leads into our laundry room.
House_laundry_entryHouse_laundry_shelfHouse_laundry_sinkHouse_laundryHouse_laundry_coatsHouse_Entry  great_room_gallery gallery_rightgreat_room_booksgreat_room_mantleHouse_fam_gallery_birdsgreat_room_tvHouse_kitchenHouse_kitchen_windowHouse_kitchen_tableHouse_kitchen_nesspressoHouse_kitchen_commandHouse_office_desks House_office_deskHouse_Soph_Entry House_Soph_Reading_Nook dresser1House_Soph_toysHouse_Soph_doorHouse_master_entry (1 of 1) House_master_dresser  House_master_bath_sinks House_master_bath_tubhouse_master_bathroomHouse_master_lexi

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you want to know where I got products or how we DIY’d projects. I’d be happy to share!

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Top 6 Home Decor Books

I’m a big decor book fan. Although I only have three of these in my possession, I have looked through all of these multiple times. (Our date nights consist of the library or Barnes and Noble…nerds.) I am currently using these books to prop up the lamp on my desk because it was too short BUT I’ll hopefully be getting a new lamp in the near future so I can bust these bad boys out for eye candy.

decorbooksdesk

 

Best Decor Books
  1. Young House Love. If there is one blog in the world that I would not want to live without, it would be YHL. I have been following them for 5 years and fall even more in love every day. This book has a TON of easy, medium and complicated DiY projects to spruce up your home. One reason I enjoy this book is that at the beginning of each project they lay out the price range, skill level and amount of time the project will take.
  2. Design Sponge at Home. This book is also a favorite for me because of the easy navigation as well as the price, skill and time laid out for each project. The projects in this book are a bit more sophisticated (I’m not sure if that’s true or if I’m just getting that feeling) just like their blog. Design*Sponge has been around for a looooong time and has several contributors so they’re a bit harder for me to keep up with and really know the people behind the projects (although Grace Bonney is the mastermind behind the operation and is a VERY cool girl!)
  3. Domino. One of THE most popular decor books out there. You will see this book in a book shelf or proping up lamps in almost every blog you visit. My sister first got the book when it was released and I read through it multiples times when I’d visit. A year later I decided I just needed my own copy. Again, this book has a more sophisticated feel, to me, than the YHL book but is very helpful as it is a guide on how to decorate each room of your home.
  4. Nate Berkus. Now WHO doesn’t love Nate?! So nice and has a great eye for design. LOVE that he’s at Target now! I don’t have Nate’s book YET but I like that it’s written from a man’s perspective. I always fall in love with the blush/gold/floral combos but then I remember that I live with a man who’s not fond of those things.
  5. Decorate. This is an AWESOME book for learning the fundamentals of decorating. It is not a DiY projects book but rather a ‘here’s how to learn about visual spacing or the flow of a room.’ It would be a good idea to read this book before reading the others mentioned above.
  6. Jonathan Adler 100 Ways to Happy Chic your Life. You would not enjoy this book if you do not enjoy the ‘happy chic’ style. Jonathan Adler has a few different books out right now. You may have seen his Happy Chic Colors but I’m more a fan of this book.
Two tips in regards to buying decor books. Do not buy them on a e-reader. I know e-readers have come a long way and have vibrant screens but there’s just something to be said for a hand held book that you can flip through, mark pages and write notes in. Also, unless you’re DYING to have a specific book as soon as it comes out, wait a few months because they always go on sale. I’ve noticed that the design/decor books always start out relatively pricey but always go way on sale once they’ve been out a while. If you must read it in the mean time, there’s probably a copy at your library! Is anyone else fortunate enough to own or have read through these lovelies? Any favs I didn’t mention that I’ll now need to go find?!
Shelly

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8 Office Must Haves

If you have any job or hobby that requires you to sit at a desk for more than a half hour at a time, it’s a good idea to have a clear space with items that help you be more productive. For me, there are 8 office must haves.
office must haves
8 Office Must Haves
As I write here at my desk I realize the things that every functioning desk should have. Whether it be for functionality or inspiration, the staples that I like to keep at my desk are:
1. Feminine or graphic at-a-glance calendar.
2. Greenery. In this case a geometric terrarium which is low maintenance and pleasing to the eye.
3. Task lamp. I have a regular desk lamp and a directional task lamp that I use frequently (especially in the evenings when the sun is down and I’m crafting.)
4. A comfortable chair. This chair was a Christmas present to me three years ago and I love it. It’s easy to raise and lower as well as lock it so it doesn’t recline. The only downfall is the white leather. I wore new dark blue jeans on it one day and it now has some spots on the seat. Lesson learned: no new jeans on white furniture.
5. Hardy notebook. I have LOTS of notebooks for various subjects/ideas but this notebook is my favorite for blogging. I keep some tabs near by to mark specific chapters and it still looks sophisticated sitting on my desk.
6. A SWEET pencil holder. I don’t have this brass holder, but I wish I did. I try my hardest to keep my desk minimal of clutter and this holder would be perfect for anyone who does a lot of journaling. It would even be cute with colored pencils in it if you’re a doodler.
7. Your favorite pen. Mine changes every few months but I always have a Sharpie pen nearby. They have the thickness I like and don’t bleed through the page.
8. Reading glasses. Or in my case, fake red rimmed reading glasses. I have no idea why I love these but they make me feel bloggier!? I wore them to Barnes and Noble and felt like I belonged there. I’ll try them out at Starbucks next and see how that goes. In any case, you don’t necessarily need red rimmed glasses at your desk but having something (favorite scarf, lipstick, lotion etc.) you can throw on to make yourself feel good and stay focused is key.
Now I’m inspired to completely slim down my desk again. Let’s see how long it lasts. What are some must-haves for your work or home desk area?
Also, I’ve been working on a moodboard on Pinterest for my dream office/craft space. Do you have a board like this?

Follow Shelly Bergman’s board Office/Craft Room on Pinterest.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
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