Home & Decor
With a focus on <a href="https://blog.xbydesign.biz/what-is-green-design/">Green Design</a>, I help my clients reuse and up-cycle what they love and recycle the rest. I love to share <a href="https://blog.xbydesign.biz/diy-console-table/">many of the projects</a> I take on for others & in my own home, as well as share resources for <a href="https://blog.xbydesign.biz/create-a-beautiful-sustainable-living-room/">sustainably sourced home decor</a>.
My Grandmother’s Mahogany Veneer Dresser Makeover
Several years ago my grandmother gave me her old high boy. She was running out of space but didn’t want to get rid of it & knew that I would keep it & take care of it. She’s had this with a full bedroom set for at least 50 years – AND she bought it 2nd hand back in the 1960’s! It’s a mahogany veneer dresser that needed a makeover to fit in with my style. I wanted to give a little face lift for a while, but didn’t want Grandmother upset with any changes I might make. Finally, when we moved into our current home & I gave our…
Decked Out Apartment Living Room For A Swank Young Couple
Hey y’all! I’ve got another Room Remix to share & this time it’s part of the Spring Into Action Blog Hop! If this is your 1st time here, welcome in! If you’re visiting from Ola’s blog J’Adore Le Decor thanks so much for stopping by! When my baby sister got married almost 2 years ago, there were 2 things I couldn’t wait for… a niece & the chance to decorate their first place. I’m still waiting on my niece but I’ve finally gotten the chance to decorate their apartment! Technically it’s not their 1st place, but we’re calling it that since they didn’t stay in the other for very long. When they moved…
Finding Inspiration For A Kid’s Media Room
When we moved into our current home 2 years ago, we had to set some priorities about which spaces needed to be setup first. Once everyone’s bedrooms were in place at least, we had some decisions to make. The open common areas needed to be done, but in what order? What’s more important, the media room or my office? The kids room or the formal dining room? The patio or the master suite? In the Fall of 2016, I participated in the One Room Challenge for the 1st time& thought I’d decided to work on our Kid’s Media Room. I had it all planned out & everything. And then we went…
How to Make Houston Feel Like Home (Inside and Out!)
This post was kindly written by Bellhops Moving Company. Houston has a lot to offer newcomers. From it’s affordable real estate prices to its booming job market, people are drawn to Houston for a range of reasons. But how can you make this new city feel like home? Where do you begin? Well, as a Houston interior designer, I may be a bit biased. Nothing makes a home feel more welcoming than a perfectly curated style that reflects your personality, which I can help with! But there are many other things you can do to get a better feel for your new location. I’ve compiled my top tips for making Houston…
7 Easy Budget Friendly Interior Design Tricks to Transform Your Kitchen
I have a service called the Xtraordinary Room Remix where I makeover a room for a specified budget by making small changes with big impact. I’ve just wrapped a kitchen project that is bigger than a Room Remix & but not a full remodel & I’ve recently made a few changes to my own kitchen that have made a world of difference. Now that I’m done with both of these projects, I’m sharing some easy interior design tips that will transform your kitchen. These are the best ways to update your kitchen quickly, easily, & on a budget. 7 Easy & Budget Friendly Interior Design Tricks to Transform Your Kitchen…
A Builder Basic Kitchen Goes Semi-Custom
Happy 2018 y’all! I am excited about what this year has in store. After spending most of 2017 out on IR with a broken foot, I finally got the go ahead to kick off my boot & start living life again. For half the year I was not able to work, walk, drive, or anything else! So when I was completely cleared, I was SO ready to do something but was at a loss about how I was going to secure my next project. I couldn’t really plan for it since I was at the mercy of God & nature to heal my broken bones. Turned out that a long…
Why Is Interior Design So Important?
It’s a quote about education, but I think it applies to the person as a whole. To life overall. What does it have to do with design? Why is interior design & decorating so important? It’s the same reason that your wardrobe, your hair, & your overall external appearance is important. It’s your first impression. When you look good, you feel good. You walk a little taller, smile a little brighter, and look people in the eye when you feel good because you look good. For me personally, heels make me feel powerful & sexy. Having a home that reflects your style, in the same way, has the same effect…
How to Create a Beautiful Sustainable Living Room
Following up on my Living Room Layout Guide I wanted to show you a practical way to create a beautiful sustainable living room. There are 3 things I always hear when it comes to sourcing an eco-friendly home: 1. It’s hard to find great looking items that are “sustainable” Shopping sustainably isn’t as hard as it seems. Believe it or not, there are retailers large & small, well-known & hidden gems that are dedicated to environmental & social responsibility. I’ll bet that some of the retailers you already buy from have some sort of policy in place or specific product lines that are eco-friendly to some degree. 2. Eco-friendly furniture…
10 Simple & Affordable Sustainable Kitchen Essentials
Do you ever think “I’d go green if it weren’t so expensive”? If you are a home cook, you may even think the only way to be sustainable in the kitchen is through your food choices. Think again, my friend! The tools you choose to use in your kitchen can be a quick & easy way to transition to the green life. Here are 10 simple & affordable Sustainable Kitchen Essentials to get you started. 1. Wood Cutting Board What makes it sustainable? It will last a very long time. It’s made from wood so it’s recyclable. Depending on the type of wood it’s made from, it can be extremely…
Recovering From Hurricane Harvey
Houston is the biggest small town in the world. For as big as we are, we know no strangers. In the past week, Hurricane Harvey dumped a ton of water on Texas – trillions of gallons. While most of our city (and many surrounding areas including our neighbors to the south & east) is underwater, many of our friends, family & neighbors who were flooded out of their homes are headed home to assess the damage & begin the arduous process of rebuilding. This process can provide closure & make victims feel better knowing what they are facing. And no doubt it feels better to take action than to sit, be still,…
