inspiration of the week: bar carts

Something I've really been loving for a while now are bar carts. I've seen some great styling for vintage brass carts to modern acrylic carts and I think it's such a fun way to add a drink station to your home or party. Bar carts are mobile so you can change their location, and they're compact which means they're perfect for small spaces (like my dining room). I have a lot of house projects/purchases on my list right now, so the bar cart will remain a daydream for now. 

Here are some great bars you can incorporate into any size room - including a few of my favorite carts.

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I think I need to host a party soon!

DIY upholstered headboard

On Sunday I shared a little teaser of all the projects I worked on over spring break. One of the easier projects (and the one I was looking forward to completing the most) was making a headboard for our new bed. 

The new bed was our Christmas present to each other this year. For our entire marriage we'd been sleeping on a bed-frame that my great-grandmother used, and only a slightly newer mattress. In the 18 months we've been in our house, I've focused on furnishing and decorating the public areas. Finally we've turned our attention to the master and it was time for a new bed!

Knowing I was going to be leaving my full-time job to go back to school we decided that we would invest in good mattresses and leave the headboard to DIY. It was unbelievably easy to make, and here's how I did it.

Supplies:

Hank wanted to learn how to make a headboard too

• Tape measure
• OSB board 78"H x 48"W x 1/2"D
• Batting (2.5 yards)
• Upholstery fabric (2.5 yards)
• Heavy-duty stapler
• Roll of nail-head trim
• Hammer or mallet
• Pencil

Step 1: Determine the size you want your headboard to be. Our final size for a king bed is  78"W x 48"H. The width was determined by the bed size, but the height was dictated by two things. First, the fabric I purchased came in a width of 54" and I knew I'd need to wrap it around the board. Second, 48" was the width that fit in the back of our car :)

Step 2: Wrap the board in the batting. I laid the batting down first and then stapled it to the back of the OSB board. Wrap the corners the same way you would with giftwrap. 

Step 3: Wrap the board in the fabric. Pay particular attention to the corners so they're nice and neat. 

Step 4: Add the nailhead trim for a finishing touch. I used a pencil to mark a line 3" from each edge and followed that line. Did you know you can purchase nailhead trim on a roll? It's basically a long strip of nailheads and every fifth one has a hole in the center. You hammer in a real nail into the holes. It saves time and helps with accuracy of a straight line. For the corners, just overlap two of the ends and drive the nail through both.

I do have to say this designer-in-training was embarrassed to share pictures of our bedroom because until now, it hadn't been touched. I'll share the progress as we go - hopefully refinishing the dressers, getting a statement piece for above the bed, styling the nightstands and some accessories for the walls. Stay tuned!

spring break recap

I still can't believe that I'm fortunate enough to be going back to school for a career that I'm so passionate about. So when spring break came, I wasn't going to squander it. I had a to-do list a mile long and I'm proud to say I accomplished everything I set out to do. I reupholstered our cedar chest and gave it new hardware, made a headboard for our bed, painted our bedroom walls and spray painted our porch furniture. Plus, I was even able to attend two volunteer commitments, catch up with friends, window shop, and do something active every day!

Here's a sneak peak of the progress I made over the past week...

I'll be sharing how I made the headboard in a future post, so stay tuned!

inspiration of the week: teal

Over the past week I've been enjoying spring break and doing lots of projects around the house. Maybe it's the promise of spring, but I've found myself really drawn to the color teal. I was originally inspired at a fabric store while I was searching for a school project. I found a great teal fabric on the 'end of bolt' rack for $4 and decided to use it to reupholster a cedar chest in our bedroom. I've been on the hunt for items to coordinate and even ended up painting the walls of our bedroom a light shade of teal.

As I've been window shopping, both online and brick-and-mortar, I've found lots of great teal items this spring. Here are some of my favorites...

loveseat :: globe :: pillow :: ottoman :: painting 

storage boxes :: stand mixer :: console table 

What's your favorite color for spring?

sparkle

I am definitely one of those people distracted by shiny objects. So it's no surprise that I've incorporated sparkle into my home decorating. For my birthday last year, the hubby got me (and installed) a chandelier I'd been coveting. Best present ever. 

A mirrored piece of furniture, or a glass table can give the illusion of more space in a room - something we desperately needed in our home. A crystal chandelier can add much needed visual interest vertically. In moderation, I think a bit of shine can even work well in gender neutral spaces. The trick is to make sure the proportion is right.

Here are some rooms with sparkle that I just love.

A statement chandelier can add all the sparkle you need, and really brightens up this dark room.

Small details can be the easiest way to add some glam.

Though not practical for most homes, this ceiling is amazing. Combined with the mirrored wall, it really makes the space feel bigger.

Fabrics with some shine to them can add a luxurious element. Don't feel like you need to avoid mixing metallics. Here the bronze bed works beautifully with the silver pouf.

Good lighting reflecting off the white backsplash and glass cabinets adds the visual interest and sparkle here.

seating area :: chair :: dining room :: bedroom :: kitchen

inspiration of the week

What's one of the best things about being a student again? Spring break! Today officially marks the first day of my spring break. The hubby says he'd spend his spring break on the beach if he had one. I agree, and I'm daydreaming of May when we'll get to lay on the beach in South Carolina with family. Until then, I'm planning on spending break relaxing at home and doing some projects around the house. 

Here's a little springtime inspiration that I'm wishing for my wardrobe...Happy Friday!

clutch :: swimsuit :: shoes :: blouse :: floral skirt :: necklace :: iphone case

DIY Leaning Floor Mirror

I'm not going to lie, I would love to have an infinite budget to buy wonderfully chic things for my home every time I see something that strikes my fancy. Unfortunately, my budget (even before becoming a student) does not allow for that. So I take pride in my crafty side and try to come up with thriftier alternatives that I can do myself. A few projects now and then can really curb my home-decor shopping bug.

Here's an easy project that the hubby helped me out with when I really needed a leaning floor mirror for the guest room. I love the presence that a large scale mirror gives a room. It fills up vertical space without taking up too much room on the floor. Not to mention the lean of the mirror gives a very flattering perspective of yourself! 

The inspiration...

look at the size of this guy

I knew I couldn't make this, but it's too gorgeous not to include.

love the whole rustic vibe of this space

I would definitely feel like a princess waking up here

My DIY version...

Supplies:

• Tape Measure
• Mirror (mine is 24" x 64")
• OSB board (1/2" thick)
• Boards for the Frame
• Wood Glue
• Mirror Adhesive
• Mitre Box 
• Clamps

Step 1. Determine the finished mirror size. I looked at quite a few floor mirrors and kept those measurements as a guide. Then I measured my space to make sure the scale would be appropriate. My finished mirror measures 32" x 72".
Step 2: Get your mirror. You can find old mirrors at thrift stores, but I had mine cut by a glass store. I was able to get this mirror for $60. If you're having the mirror cut, you'll want them to sand the edges so they aren't sharp.

Step 3: Gather your frame materials. To provide stability, I got a piece of OSB board to mount on the back of the mirror. You can use plywood, but it's more expensive and heavier. I didn't want the board to show from the side, so I subtracted 2" from the height and width of the finished mirror (including frame). For the frame, I liked the rustic look of the knotty pine and chose a 4" width. 
Step 4: Cut your frame. We don't own a circular saw, so I bought a mitre box. We cut the boards at a 45 degree angle so they came together seamlessly at the corners. If you're going to stain or finish the boards, do that now.

Step 5: Glue it all together. Follow the directions for the mirror adhesive. We used generous amounts to make sure the board would hold the weight of this size mirror. Carefully flip the mirror over and secure it to the board. Using wood glue, adhere the frame pieces to the board edges. Use clamps to secure the fit and let set as directed.
Step 6: For added safety, you can secure your mirror to the wall with a mount.

I originally planned to take a hammer to the wood and stain it to give it a "reclaimed" look, but I ended up loving the light pine and kept it as-is. 
So what do you think? Can this DIY version hold up to the expensive versions? 

sunlight

Like many Denver transplants, it was the mountains that drew us from the Midwest to Colorado. But it's the weather that keeps us here. Denver is blessed with over 300 days of sunshine a year. Personally, I am someone who needs sunshine and a cloudy day completely changes my mood. (It's also no surprise that yellow is my favorite color). So when we were hunting for a house, natural light was my first priority. I love the light in our house, especially when I wake up to little rainbows everywhere from the sunlight streaming through the chandelier.

My husband on the other hand, prefers a cave where he can relax and watch movies. Luckily he can escape to the basement and close the blinds - leaving me in blissful sunlight on the main floor.

Here are some spaces with great natural light that I just love. 

How fantastic would it be to take a bath here with the sunlight streaming in? 

I love how the natural light warms up this huge space.

I bet this kitchen is cheery even on a cold winter day

I could definitely be inspired in this space.

Cooking and entertaining in this space would be a dream!

What about you? Do you prefer the sunlight streaming in, or a dark place to escape from the world?

bathroom :: living room :: kitchen :: studio :: great room & kitchen

sunlight & sparkle

Hello and welcome to sunlight & sparkle! Launching this blog marks the fruition of a long journey towards finding and pursuing my passion. 

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I spent seven years in an advertising career that I enjoyed but never truly loved. So I did some serious soul-searching to find my passion. In hindsight, interior design seems so obvious. Even at a young age, I was always working to create a space where I could relax and forget about the stress of the day. From the turmoil of high school, to the chaos of living in a house of girls in college, to the stress of long hours at work, my home space has always been my retreat.

So here I am. I finally worked up the courage to quit my job and go to design school full-time. And now I'm ready to launch sunlight & sparkle. I hope to use this blog to showcase my love for all things design and maybe even inspire you to create your own space for retreat.