Gayla Mullins - Guest Blogger of the week! Yep. sisters are doin' it!

hi friends, family and domicile peeps! i think we mentioned in a few posts back the we have on a bit of a hiatus while filming two episodes of a new show called design wars for HGTV. watch out for our girl jolene behind the camera sometime in october. we think?? we will keep you updated. anyway, not sure why we didn't get some guest bloggers to take our place while filming...oh well!, we have a fantastic one this week while we play a little catch up. i am honored to introduce you all to my sister gayla mullins. she will be with you all this week as our very first guest blogger. i'm super excited that she has excepted and am looking forward to see what she has in store for us this. maybe some secret shopping spots in austin, tx. maybe a post on kids & dogs or van pools. we shall see!! i'm excited!!! xoxo amanda

my sister. she is awesome and I love her!!!
we used to play dress up a lot as kids. this is one of my favorite photos for many reasons.

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Animals



Hattie the Elephant designed by David Weeks.

 


Simus the Rhino

 


Ursa the Bear

 


Animal Box: Polar Bear designed by Karl Zahn

 


Polar Bear box opened.

 


Animal box: Rhino

 


Animal Box: Whale

 


Whale box opened.

  I enjoy seeing quirky little details which give interest and character to interiors and for me, animals usually do this. I'm loving these fantastic timber animals from Areaware, New York and they are available in New Zealand from Simon James Concept Store and Fabric. Aren't they fabulous?
Photographs via Areaware.

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Sometimes Other People Say It Better....

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Loving - custom cool rugs

I am currently smitten with the rugs from Custom Cool Rugs, each design can be made from hundreds of color choices and to your specifications!! The possibilities are endless! One of my amazing readers alerted me to their site. How did I not know about this company? Below is a sample of their designs. They are gorgeous, they can be made with silk, or wool and many of the designs can be of a woven or kilim design. They also make pillows and have choices for the kiddies. {Although, I think most of the designs could be used in a kid's room!}

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One room 2 Looks with: Hi Sugarplum!

What a fun "job" it is to be a blogger in this day and age. I get to meet amazing ladies through cyberspace everyday! I don't think I ever had so many "friends".  One lover in particular is Cassie, blogger extrordinare from the lovely Hi Sugarplum!. I know if we lived in the same zipcode or state for that matter we would be pals. Probably drinking pals that just blab about fabric but still, pals nonetheless. I am happy to have her showing us her "one room 2 ways" today. She is so smart she thought outside the box and chose her backyard room. What a smartypants!

Go visit and follow her if you don't already

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Hey guys! I'm Cassie from Hi Sugarplum! I think Amber, her blog and her skillz are amazeballs (stalker, much?), so I'm super excited she asked me to participate in her series! I think I'm cooler by default, if only for today.
When Amber asked me to show "One Room, Two Ways," I immediately thought of my current favorite 'room' in the house...our backyard! When the temperatures rise and the sun is shining, you'll find our family hanging out back.

(Disclaimer: This shot is from last Summer, things haven't advanced this much yet.)
Most weekends we eat out on the porch. This is how it might look for a family-friendly afternoon cook-out.

Disposable plates and napkins, fun straws and a mix of backyard treasures for the centerpiece.

But when the sun sets and the kids are stashed tucked in bed, it's liquor Mommy/Daddy Time!

Twinkle lights and lots of candles set a relaxed and romantic mood. Common elements rounded up from our indoor decor make for a great centerpiece, and help keep things in place if the wind kicks up.

I like to use real flatware and linens so the evening is a bit more polished, but still mix in melamine dishes and stemware so no one has to be too careful.

I don't know which way I like better, but I know this room will get lots of use in the coming months! Amber, the table is all set for you and the Duck....fly South baby!

*****

Thanks Cassie! Love the birdcage filled with plants and the great seagrass placemats! Thanks for all your images and deets. 

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Hanging Artwork in Bookshelves

Artfully arranging bookshelves requires some skill.  The trick is to show off your accessories in an effortless way.  It's a balancing act - too much and they look over styled, too little and they feel disjointed and cluttered.

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   The most important thing to remember is bookshelves are an opportunity to create something special and unique in your space.  They offer a source of variety - you can constantly rearrange them to give you a different look depending on the style you are going for at the moment.

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 One thing I love to include in bookshelves is artwork. If your bookshelves have adjustable shelving, this is super easy to do.

Here are the steps to properly hang artwork in your bookshelves. 

Decide where you want to create the artwork vignette, making sure to maintain symmetry with the other shelves in the unit.  You may need to remove a shelf or two to create an opening large enough to accommodate the artwork. 

This is a picture of the bookshelves in our family room (at least a section of them).  You can see the artwork in the larger opening I have created by removing one shelf.

Select the artwork - preferably from somewhere else in your home (there is no need to buy something new).  I like to select pieces that will bring a bit of color into the space.

This is a photograph from a client's home and a great example of incorporating a darker framed piece of artwork into lighter toned bookshelves.

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Remember, artwork can include a mirror, plates, or really anything you we are clever enough to hang vertically on the wall.

Create the complete vignette for the shelf before hammering your first nail!  You need to make sure you are going to be happy with the entire shelf and how it reads, before you hang the artwork.  Take into consideration the space below the piece and how it's going to look overall.

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In my home, I chose to center the artwork.  But because the opening is large, I needed to include additional accessories to "fill in" around the smaller scale piece.

Properly Hang the Artwork.
Most built-in bookshelves have a floating back (meaning there is a space between the back of the unit and the wall).  So, if you attempt to nail straight into the back of the unit, the nail will go straight through and not support the weight of the artwork.  You'll then be left with an ugly hole in the back of the shelving unit.

Here's my solution.  Hang all artwork on monofilament from the shelf directly above the artwork.

Voila. You have the look.

Here's a close up of what I'm talking about.  The stack of books to the left go in front of the nail and hide the hardware. 

Here are my favorites for getting the job done.  I never leave home without these when I'm styling a client's home! 

Monofilament

Clear 60 lb. test Monofilament (or as we like to call it here in the South "Deep Sea Fishing Line")

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Small Picture Nails
I like these nails because they have a prominent head that will not allow the monofilament to slip off. 

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Self Adhesive Hooks

If the homeowner does not want a nail hole in the shelf, I use a self adhesive backed hook like this.  To use these, you place the hook flat on the above shelf with the top facing out (hope that makes sense!)

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Girly Hammer
I like this particular hammer because A. it's pink and B. it's only 12 oz. so you can easily handle it.

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Bumpons
It's very important to use these on the back of the artwork to prevent the picture from sliding and becoming crooked on the wall.  They are also super helpful for photo groupings to keep the series straight on the wall.

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I hope this gives you a new trick to use in your home!  Have a wonderful short week. M.

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