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>.
One Room Challenge ~ Week 1 ~ Backyard Makeover
Well y’all, the One Room Challenge is underway again for Spring 2017. I joined in as a guest participant for the 1st time last Fall (2016) & had a great time working on a room that had been put on the back burner, our master bedroom. I really wanted to participate this time too & I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Since we updated our bedroom, I wanted to dive in and tackle the master bath. It’s no small job since we want to move walls & possibly plumbing to accommodate his & her’s closets, consolidate vanities, & change the lighting. I had been gearing up since November…
What is Green Design?
I’ve been getting this question a lot lately. “What is Green Interior Design? What do you mean by “Sustainable Design”?” I don’t think people are asking for a technical definition of green design – they can google that. I think people want to know what it means from a practical point of view. “What does it mean to me? How does Green Design affect me?” Isn’t that always what we want to know? Generally green design is about using energy efficient lighting, non-toxic materials (from low- or no-voc paints to adhesives to materials used in producing furniture & accessories), sustainably sourced rugs & textiles, renewable wood products, and carefully choosing…
2017 Color of the Year Roundup
The “color of the year” concept that Pantone started back in 2000 has been around for 17 years now. Since then, other companies have started to introduce their own picks for color of the year. There’s some debate on whether there is any 1 clear authority on the subject anymore (except for the fact that Pantone’s color of the year influences more than design itself). Either way, I like the healthy competition, innovation, & range of possiblities that the color of the year concept has introduced. Each company’s 2017 color of the year seems to have a little something in common. Nature. They all seem to be somehow nature inspired. THE GREENS…
Let’s Talk About Good Art
They say that art, or the reaction to it, is subjective. It may be, but I say talent is talent. I may not like something but I would have to acknowledge the talent of the person who created it. I wouldn’t be able to do it, so if nothing else that is saying something. Now that the niceties are out of the way, let’s talk about good art. I wouldn’t call myself an art snob; I don’t analyze pieces, but like most people, I just know what I like & what I don’t. And I definitely don’t think there is a correlation between how much a work of art costs…
DIY Marble Tile Tabletop
When I decided to remix our master bedroom for the ORC, I wanted to use an antique vanity that I got at a community garage sale. The table had no top and I really wanted to top it with a marble slab. Time & cost didn’t let me do that so instead I decided to create my own tabletop. I wanted to share with you how to tile a tabletop, my way. This is for square or rectangular tables that will not require any special tools or cutting. Supplies: Tile of choice. For my 16″ x 33″ table top, I used 1 12″x 24″ white marble tile, 1 sheet of white…
Never Leave IKEA Without These 10 Things
There are people who turn their noses up at big box stores and then there are those of us who know & appreciate their value. The biggest of the big boxes has to be IKEA. I know people who make regularly scheduled pilgrimages to IKEA whether they have a specific project going on or not. I am one of them! I’m lucky enough to have an IKEA store in my city so it’s not a bad trek for me, although nothing in this city is “close”. I don’t go often but every few months I get an itch and make my way down I-10. Without fail, I never leave IKEA…
One Room Challenge Week 6 | Master Bedroom Reveal!
Well y’all, it’s week 6 of the ORC and that means it’s time for… Our Master Bedroom REVEAL! I have vacuumed my bedroom for the first time in 3 weeks and I never knew it could feel so good! No we are not lazy or dirty, there was just no reason to do it until I was done with all the dirty work – literally. In case you missed it & want to catch up from the beginning, here’s what I tackled week by week: Week 1 | Week 2| Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 This officially falls under the category of a room remix! Some things…
One Room Challenge Week 5 | Master Bedroom Teaser
Here we are in week 5 of the One Room Challenge & I have to say that there is pure madness and mayhem in this final stretch. I’ve done so much, but there is still so much to do. With just 1 week until the final reveal, I can give you a sneak peek of some of the things going on in our master bedroom. ORC Master Bedroom Sneak Peek Last week I showed you how I changed out the light kit on our ceiling fan. I know this is something that is all over Pinterest BUT those are mostly the standard 3 or 4 arm light kits that a drum shade…
One Room Challenge Week 4 | The Ceiling Fan & Lighting Design
Week 4 of the One Room Challenge was really hard for me for 1 reason alone… incorporating the ceiling fan into my lighting design. Specifically the light kit on our ceiling fan. There is technically nothing wrong with our ceiling fan, it’s a standard fan with a glass bowl fixture. The fan itself is not the problem, I would just prefer a drum shade in our master bedroom to fit in more with the lighting design and the overall look & feel. They are more modern, flexible enough to fit practically any decor style, and can be customized to the hilt with fabric, paint, cutouts – imagination is the only…
One Room Challenge Week 3 | Progress & Deciding on Textiles
Last week on the One Room Challenge, I chose my paint colors, got to painting, and started working on refinishing my dresser. This week’s goal is deciding on textiles, but first a recap of last week’s progress. First off, people seem to think bigger is better, but this is a case where I know that’s not true. Normally I can paint a decent sized room, ceiling and all, in a day or 2. Our master bedroom is a pretty good size – about 285 square feet – and it took the entire week to get the tray and the walls painted. All my dresser got was a good sanding & a…
