Treading in Color

   I have been with Sterling Carpet One now for 8 years and one of my favorite perks to the job is that our owner Paula-has had plates made for kids since year 1. She would give me the paper template to go home to my kids with to have them color and then she would send them off to be turned into plates. I have memories of making my own as a kid but thought it was a lost art?!    She not only has included my kids in this tradition but every employees kids from all three locations and I'm sure all her nieces and nephews galore! Thanks Paula-these plates will be treasured for years to come! first year vs 2018

2019 is just around the corner and trends for the new year are starting to rise to the top! Benjamin Moore went a lot more neutral for 2019 with AF-690 Metropolitan. The thing I like about this "neutral" is that it still has color! In case no one told you, color can be neutral!! I love that color is popular on every surface not just your walls but in draperies, islands and even woodwork! I think if color is a little out of your comfort zone then start with a smaller space like a bedroom where you can close the door and not see it at all times of the day. I personally like a darker color for a bedroom. I think it's easier to bring color into the space when you have pillows, bedspreads and rugs as examples to play off of. When in doubt it's just paint, so go ahead, step outside of that comfort zone and go darker than you normally would!

I recently read that the #1 design mistake most people make is...CLUTTER. I was kind of surprised until I started decorating for christmas in my own home and realized how much STUFF I had! So this year I decided less is more. Of course we still put up a tree but I usually over-decorate my mantle and this year I'm keeping it simple. I have a good friend who is a true hy-gee' decor lover and is always stressing that "less is more." She's always getting rid of STUFF and a lot of the time I'm very envious.                                                      So I think that might be my goal this coming year- getting rid of STUFF. Even though my kiddos are still young, it might be a good lesson to learn! It just seems impossible sometimes while working in the design world. I love everything and enjoy changing it up often. I need t...

I'll start with a before picture so that you can better understand the WHY? My kids brush their teeth in this bathroom and it is always a mess! Don't ask how toothpaste can get on the wall? The shelf was pretty difficult to clean time and time again and have you ever tried cleaning up globs of dried toothpaste? It's the worst! So my hubby came to the rescue yet again with a pinterest idea he saw online- removed floating shelf AFTER The answer was individual mason jars to hold toothbrushes and toothpaste.  So far, so good. Less mess!

Looking to update but wondering where to start? Feeling overwhelmed? Let me help with a few tried and true tips- one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to update a space is with color! 1. Choose a color story : keep it going through all of your main living areas to help create a natural flow to the space. I've talked about it before and monochromatic color schemes are what's still trending today. Another thing that can help with where to start is choosing an inspirational piece whether it's a piece of art or a favorite pillow, let those pieces guide you. 2. Tone-on-tone coloring : layering color with one color but different tones is a great decorating technique that has been popular for some time now.The saturation or depth of a color can dramatically transform a space without interrupting the flow. Choose a warm neutral you love and go 2 shades darker/lighter for an accent wall. 3. Comparison :  Don't forget to fall in love with a color in your...

Did you know we install glass showers @ Sterling Carpet One!? You may have noticed that shower doors are looking more minimal than ever these days. This is because designers are now embracing the sleek, less-is-more look of frameless shower doors. These stylish new door types leave excessive metal hardware and framing out of the equation, letting showers blend in more seamlessly with the rest of their surroundings. (Domino magazine) The other FANTASTIC part of the equation is that our designers can help with it ALL! Our designers can help choose the tile, grout color, to heat/not to heat floor and even accent tile for a little bling or more storage options! Clean Crisp whites are what's trending now- Adding Glass doors and a walk in shower is a way to update a forever bathroom by eliminating the bathtub. I also think they allow for a lighter brighter space which can be good for smaller spaces.  Moral of the story: Looking to update? Remodel? Stop in to Sterling Carpe...

Even though us midwesterners tend to be 5 or more years behind the most up and coming home decor trends from the coasts, I'm going to talk about 5 decor mistakes to avoid in order to catch up a little. 1. Neon colors- I feel like this one is a little obvious, if you crave a dramatic color I might suggest a Candy Apple Red instead?! When in doubt, always go for a warm neutral and accent with color in your accessories. 2. Anything Chevron- This trend is a little harder to quit and might take some time                but consider replacing the chevron trend with a new pattern like stripes or polka-dots. 3. Plastic storage drawers- These stackable drawers were awesome for when we were in            college, but let's give the grown up version a try and switch to wood or even a storage ottoman. 4. Ruffle Curtains- Feel free to still use these in your little girls' room but when...