inspiration {fouth of july}

We'll be spending the day at our town parade, swimming, hanging out with friends, and then later on roasting s'mores and popping corn, like here, while trying to avoid the pesky mosquitos.

Just in case you need some {really} last minute Independent Day inspiration, here ya go . . .

Print out and frame this patrotic subway art from eighteen25

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These star medallions from Martha Stewart would set the mood for any Fourth of July party backdrop. The instructions call for fabric, but I would try making them out of festive heavy weight scrapbook paper.

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These cute watermelon stars from Hip Hip Hooray! call attention to any fruit platter. Chill thinly sliced the melon and before cutting it with a sharp-edged cookie cutter. Garnish with a handful of freshly washed blueberries and your set!

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If you're really talented and have super {fast} sewing skills, you could whip out a festive romper for your favorite little toddler, like my mother-in-law did a few years back. (Yes, she cooks, posted here, and sews!)  I love the rick rack trim she added to the star small-print fabric and the peek-a-boo diaper cover. Simplicity has lots of easy to sew patterns, like this.

Or you could leave all the planning and work to someone else, and just go get your nails do like this. So much fun and worth showing off at any Independendence Day party!

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What's your Fourth of July style?

top five {june}

Just in case you missed one, here are my top five posts from June:

1) popping corn
where I shared how to easy it is to popcorn over an  open fire.

2) gardening mistakes
where I shared common gardening mistakes.

3) how to lay a hardwood floor
where I shared how any homeowner can easily avoid the cost of installation and lay their own hardwood floor.

4) fishy themed birthday party
where I shared some easy, last-minute decorations for a child's fishy themed party.

5) recipes for a shrimp boil and banana split cake
where I shared a recipe for a simple shrimp and calm boil dinner, topped off with an easy make-ahead dessert based a twist of the on the banana split classic.

Wanna get caught up with even more?

top five {may}

A special thank you to my readers! Thank you for stopping and reading my blog. I appreciate all your comments and for joining me on this journey as we take baby steps towards updating, renovating, and decorating our little yellow cape.

too long

you know you've been renovating too long when:

• your baby uses floor samples as building blocks
• your baby prefers to push around paint rollers instead of toy cars
• you perceive all the white dust as a great way to practice letter formation with your preschooler
• your kids express home improvement store preferences
• instead of grabbing a piece of paper for a phone message, you just write directly on the wall

what are your "renovating too long moments?"

inspiration (black & white)

I've really been thinking about color palettes lately, now that I have a completely empty and
furniture-less room.

We have so much color outside right now, that I find myself drawn toward the black and white color combination. Handyman has traditional and conservative taste, so I often have to convince him through images that black and white doesn't necessarily have to be super modern, cold, or impersonal.

In fact, the black and white palette could work in any room of the home, from the front entry all the way through to the bedroom. Check out these images, and notice how the design is kept warming, inviting, and often traditional and timeless.

Each image has a few design elements in common:

• a warm or neutral floor
• an interchangeable pop of color (with flowers, pillows, or accessories)

THE FRONT ENTRY

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This black and white entry is has the warm tones from the hardwood, and even a very neutral and beige area rug. The touches of pink could easily be swapped with almost any color such as kelly green or navy blue. I love how you can catch a glimpse of the glossy black door in the mirror's reflection.

The KITCHEN

Source:Traditional Kitchen design by San Francisco Kitchen And Bath Precision Cabinets & Trim

This kitchen is really a blank slate. It's well-designed with classic materials and finishes. The owner could easily influence the overall style of the space with their own accessories and personal taste.

THE LIVING AREA

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  This is not an overly black and white living space. The black fireplace in contrast with the crisp white surround and mantle are the contributing black and white element of the room. The gray walls have a warm hue and the deep colored wood coffee table, along with the gold frames balance the stark contrast of the hearth area.

THE BEDROOM

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 This bedroom is a wonderful example of modernizing a more traditional look. The stuffiness of the four poster bed is toned down with glossy black paint and the striped graphic pillow and vase balance the antique oil painting.

THE GALLERY WALL

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 For those afraid to commit to any entirely white or black gallery space, this is a good example of both.

THE LAUNDRY ROOM

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 For those willing to commit to a dark wall color, this bright laundry room demonstrates a even balance of black and white. The white shelves lighten the walls, while the corbels add some charm. The window valance is simple and the adjacent room is a contrasting lighter color. And of course the striped green rug could be interchanged with any desired hue.

If you want to try something different, you could add a graphic black and white pillow to a neutral space, likes these cute damask pillows below.

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What's your favorite color palette?