House of Earnest

April 26, 2013

Friday Faves 4.26

ONE bring on the scents of spring! Verbena soap is $10 from Design Darling. TWO The mix of natural textures and graphic stripes is one of my favorite things ever and this seagrass trunk would be wonderfully chic for storage. $330 from EcoChic. THREE Parties are prettier with subtle little details like these baby blue berry baskets from Shop Sweet Lulu. Perfect for a sweet spring party and at $2 each, they make style super affordable. FOUR Jazz up your summer entertaining style with these brightly colored melamine trays from West Elm, $10 each. FIVE this might be my favorite find for the entire spring. An outdoor coffee table made of wrought iron is so pretty and isn’t crazy expensive! $168 from Terrain. SIX I must have this acacia tiered stand. I like that each level has upturned sides to corral rolling fruit or gooey brie. $78 from Terrain.

Well, it’s Friday, and I’m on the last connection flight home to Ohio. I am completely exhausted and kind of embarrassed that I just totally didn’t post yesterday! I had a really strange flight plan back and just was confused about what time it was at home. Regardless, my planned post for yesterday (a fun giveaway!) will go up next week.

I can’t want to get my hands dirty this weekend and get some DIYs up and running again. I’ve got a few up my sleeve that I think you’ll love and I am debuting my patio design as part of the Patio Style Challenge on the Home Depot’s website next Wednesday! In the meantime there are tons of other amazing bloggers sharing their spaces as well. Head on over to the Apron blog for a good dose of summer style.

See you guys on Monday, Have an amazing Friday and weekend!

5 Comments

April 24, 2013

Artfully Serene

in Home Decor with 14 Comments

It’s not really often that I feel as blown away by an artist as I did when I found out about the stunning art by Hillary Butler. Her landscape abstract paintings are so soft and pretty, capturing the feeling of moving color, which isn’t what I usually think about when I think about abstract art. Hillary’s talent is evident in how she acheives such bright, fresh color in a mellow serene way. I just love her pieces.

Hillary has a love of interior design as well which is what drives some of her on-trend colors, styles, and what gave her the idea for a new (completely awesome) tool. You can actually email her a photo of your home and she’ll photoshop the art into your space so you can see what it looks like before you buy it. I think that people are often overwhelmed by abstract art and have a hard time envisioning it in their homes, so this is a wonderful tool.

I am so excited to introduce her work to you and she is so excited also to meet you guys! For House of Earnest readers only, she is offering a complimentary 12 x 12 painting for any purchase over $250 until May 12th. We’re thinking that this could be a great opportunity for Mother’s day! Buy a beautiful painting for your mom (over $250) and get a 12 x 12 for yourself! It’s perfect! Just enter HOUSE250 at check out.

I hope you’ll hop over to her shop. I’m considering two different paintings at the moment and would love to see which ones you guys love. Let me know!

14 Comments

April 23, 2013

Bright Pop of Tropical

in Party Style with 13 Comments

The Saturday before I left for China, I did the flowers for a beautiful wedding reception with a bright, poppy, tropical twist. It was not only such a welcome surge of brights for spring, but it was a new challenge for me to work with tropical flowers.

I was a little nervous, but as soon as the blooms arrived, I was so overtaken by the texture, dimension, and color that the whole process just took on a life of it’s own. I wanted to arrange them the day of the event, since orchids are a little sensitive. I woke up super early, put on some music, drank my coffee and got to work.

I absolutely loved the entire process and working with such unique blooms. I added some lemon to the bottom of several arrangements to give them a little pop of yellow and add to the cheery, tropical attitude.

It’s definitely different than the other weddings I’ve done, but I think that is why I love it so much!

Give me your thoughts? Love tropicals? Too modern for you? Tell me!

I hope this brightens up your Tuesday!

13 Comments

April 22, 2013

Media Shelving Update

in Home Decor, our home with 5 Comments

In our living room, we had initially created a console out of pallets for our media components and although I loved the idea, after switching to a new receiver and new electronics, they didn’t fit into the openings in the homemade console. I’ve been on the hunt for something that was unique and had some height to it. Everything else in the living room sits lower and creating contrast in height and leading the eye up was my goal.

I finally found something that I liked, and the bonus was that it was only $70 from Ikea. I didn’t expect to find something there that had a more unique look to it, but I found that the basic, cubic look of these metal and glass shelves, dressed up with metallic and neutral accessories made all the difference.

It fits all of the media components perfectly and allows for enough storage for my books and accessories to be displayed. The shelves provide a great mix of modern and vintage casual when mixed with the other pieces in my living room.

I’ve actually been thinking of this little nook in my house the whole time I’ve been traveling and I’m excited to get back home and play with it a little more, adjusting some of the decor and maybe adding a pop of color.

What do you use to corral your electronics? Do you like the change from rustic industrial pallet to the cleaner glass shelves?

5 Comments

April 19, 2013

Friday Faves 4.19

in friday favorites with 5 Comments

ONE a pretty card for mothers day, $5 from Terrain; TWO picnic weather is coming and this blanket from Crane & Canopy would be perfect, $69. THREE outdoor jardine chairs from West Elm are a good size, pretty finish and fold for easy storage. $89 each on sale. FOUR shop this summer’s farmers markets in style with ‘le tote’ from Oh Leander, $25. FIVE woven seagrass vases are a perfect way to reflect the warming weather inside. $35-$65 from Horchow.

It’s been a long week over here in Hong Kong. Lots of travel, long meetings, and smoggy weather have got me excited for a little weekend R&R. I plan on exploring Victoria’s peak (which in my twelve times to HK have never visited) and if the sun comes out, getting a little pool time!

I hope you all have great plans! I’m off for a Friday night drink!

5 Comments

April 18, 2013

Beginner Blooms: Lesson Three

in beginner blooms with 4 Comments

It’s the third installment of beginner blooms and I’m excited to be branching (haha) into some more floral type varieties. Similar to the first and second lesson, I choose a (very easy to arrange in) teardrop shaped vessel. Tulips are so perfect for spring, and arranging them to look like a big, substantial arrangement is the key!

We have the same beginning steps that we did in the first two lessons. ONE measure your blooms and cut them one and a half to two times the height of your vase. TWO Clear off all of the lower leaves that would fall below the neck of the vase (this will enable you to fit in more stems and make the arrangement look clean and professional). THREE cut at an angle with a sharp knife.

From there, things are new with a more flexible and pliable flower. Keep reading for the full photos of step by step arranging!

4 Comments

April 17, 2013

Color Trend: Dusty Blue

in color with 2 Comments

While Emerald has it’s time in the spotlight, I’m loving the dustier blue that is one of the supporting Pantone colors of 2013. It can be bold, quirky, serene, or trendy and I also love it as a wedding color for this spring as well. Even Diet Pepsi is getting in on the action with a can that was specially designed by Vern Yip (HGTV Designer) to reflect the trend.

I was inspired initially by the dusky blue overcast April sky here in Hong Kong and thought this color was perfect for a fresh spring home update. What do you think?

I’ll be back here tomorrow with another Beginner Blooms post, so get excited!

Photo Credit: Frames | pillow | wallpaper | rug | diet pepsi

*this post is sponsored by pepsi

2 Comments

April 16, 2013

Pop of Yellow Bar Tray

in before & after, Hand Made with 26 Comments

Spring has sprung. After all of the waiting, we’re finally in the depths of some warmer weather and I’m celebrating by getting out the bright, cheery drinks and snacks to enjoy outside on the patio.

I hinted last week to a project I was working on with Sherwin Williams in conjunction with National Painting Week and today, I’m finally revealing the finished product! The best part of the whole project is not only the color change, but also the bar tray itself.

I used the base of an old directors chair that I’d had and simply removed the arms and set a wooden tray on the top. There you go! Base, tray, a new coat of paint, and I’ve got myself a tray table worthy of any bar area and was able to use an old piece of furniture that had been sitting in the guest room.

If you’re not a huge DIYer, I swear you can still do this project. I didn’t use a primer, but I did sand off any clear finish that had previously been on the stool base and used two coats of Lemon Twist paint with a sponge brush to reduce brush strokes (and make for easy clean-up!). I finished off the table by painting the hardware gold and adding some painted gold ‘L’ brackets to the corners for a more polished look.

I LOVE the way it turned out and the extra pop it lends to my (mostly neutral) dining room. What do you think? Are you inspired to do your own home paint project yet? Head on over to Sherwin Williams’ National Painting Week site to see color inspirations, painting ideas, and expert tips all week! If you think you’d like to see more projects like this one, there are thirteen other bloggers using paint to transform their spaces.

Today, Cassidy and Justin over at Remodelaholic are sharing another yellow project, but tomorrow painting with blue is Amanda from Recycled Consign and Design as well as Emily from Decor Chick.

I cannot wait to check out the full week of projects and I hope you follow along as well!

*this post is sponsored by Sherwin Williams, but thoughts, photos, and ideas are all my own.

26 Comments

April 15, 2013

In the Air with Illume

in Travel with 8 Comments

I’m currently in the air heading to Hong Kong for a little business trip. I posted about my travel jewelry box before, but thought that letting you guys in on how I bring the comforts of home with me on all of my many adventures would be fun.

So, as you’ve realized, I am up in the air about every couple of months, so where I used to ‘rough it’ a little more, now I really value making the places I spend so much of my time feel comfortable and welcoming. Illume happened to send me some goodies which coincided with my trip and the new line is called Eternal Nomad, which I’m beginning to think is the perfect word to describe me.

ONE a notebook for all of those crazy ideas that I get mid-air. TWO a travel candle for when I get to my room and it’s musty (which is usually with the humidity in the far east). THREE a travel jewelry box to keep my gems in check. FOUR coconut mango cream keeps me hydrated in flight and the body wash is what I use to wash my hands and up my arms before deplaning for a meeting. FIVE a soft scarf to use as a blanket, a pillow, or to wrap around my face in a duststorm.

Don’t think that because I’m on the other side of the world that I didn’t prepare an amazing couple weeks for you on House of Earnest! Tomorrow, I have my National Painting Week reveal to show you which I’m crazy excited about.

What can’t you live without when you travel?

8 Comments

April 12, 2013

Friday Faves 4.12

in friday favorites with 5 Comments

ONE wooden nesting bowls are a bright shot of color for your kitchen, $45 from Kate Spade Saturday. TWO a big a’hoy to a great hook. $38 from High Street Market. THREE a minimalist and artistic serving tray will go with any entertaining direction this spring. $40 from Leif. FOUR talking about artistic, an abstract mug would be so perfect for your (saturday) morning tea, $10 from Kate Spade Saturday. FIVE a sisal rug is perfect for warmer weather and the navy on natural color scheme and $135 price tag couldn’t be better. SIX cocktails, yes. Gold, yes. $445 tray table from High Street Market is wonderful all around. SEVEN A neon dot is a lot easier to incorporate into your home when it’s on a foundation of neutral linen. Neon dot pillow is $198 from Anthropologie.

This Friday is going to be amazing. I have the day off work to prepare for a wedding which I’m doing flowers for tomorrow and I’m preparing for a trip to China (again) for which I leave this Sunday (did you get that? I am doing a wedding on Saturday and leave for China on Sunday?). I’m a little stressed, but I have some pretty amazing projects to share with you while I’m in the far east and I’ll also be sharing photos on Instagram and tweeting my adventures. Are you guys ready?

What is on your short list this weekend?

5 Comments