10 Ways to UpStyle Your Closet

I love a beautiful closet and think it’s one of the easiest ways to enhance your life.  A beautiful closet makes your clothes and accessories look better and I believe it can also make you feel your best each and every day.

Many of the design clients I work with struggle with making the most of their closet, from organizing it to making it a design statement like the rest of their bedroom.  No matter how big or small your closet is, there are some design tricks you can use to make it a beautiful, functional and inspiring space.

1.  CREATE A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION

If you don’t have a walk-in closet, don’t let that stop you from creating a dynamic first impression with your closet.  Painting your closet doors, adding trim work or using wall paper to add a graphic punch is a great way to up-style your closet.

2.  ADD PAINT OR PAPER

Adding a little pizazz to the inside of your closet will not only energize the space but your clothes will look more glamorous surrounded by pretty paper or paint.

 

I love the idea of wall-papering the inside of a closet door.  It creates such a pretty backdrop to display outfits against.

Paint your closet walls your favorite color which is sure to lift your spirits.

3.  ORGANIZE BY COLOR

 

Organizing your clothes by style first (shirts, pants, skirts etc.) and then by color will give your closet a stylized feel and make getting dressed easier.

And don’t forget that the hangers are part of your style statement so use all one style of hanger to give your closet a streamlined and  cohesive look.

4.  KEEP IT ORGANIZED

I can’t stress how important an organized closet is to starting your day on a good foot.  Keep like items together and use shelf dividers to keep things tidy.

 

5.  USE STORAGE BOXES AS A STYLE ELEMENT

Storage boxes are another great organizing tool.  Invest in study boxes with stylish details.  Storage boxes can become part of your closet style!  If you come across plain boxes at the thrift store, an inexpensive roll of wrapping paper and double-sided tape  can transform them into decorative boxes in a flash.

6.  PUT THINGS ON DISPLAY

I love to incorporate decorative accents into a closet space.  Hanging a piece of art or displaying accessories or personal care items on decorative risers can transform your closet into a special space.

7.  MAKE IT PERSONAL

If space allows, why not incorporate a small vanity desk or chaise into your closet space.  It my not seem like you’d hang out in your closet but I promise this will become a special retreat for you.

8.  ADD A TOUCH OF GLAMOUR

One of the easiest ways to up-style your closet is by hanging a chic chandelier or pendant light.  This change alone will make your closet feel special and personal.

9.  ADD SEATING

Ok, who wouldn’t want this gorgeous ottoman in their closet.  Seating, whether a chair, stool or ottoman will give you a place to put on your shoes and turn your closet into a salon.

10.  ADD A RUG

Adding a decorative rug as a style layer in your closest is a quick and easy up-style tip.  Go bold or stay classic but layer a rug to give your closet a sense of warmth and coziness.

If you’re looking for ways to make your closet a more inspiring space, try one or more of these Closet UpStyle Tips!

Happy Decorating!

If you’d like help creating a home your absolutely love, CONTACT ME about my design services!

all images can be found on MY DREAM CLOSET pinterest board.

My Visit to Antique Traditions

Before I headed off to the Kentucky Derby, I had the privilege of being the guest of honor for Ladies Night Out at a fabulous store north of Atlanta.  Antiques Traditions is a cute home décor a gift store that is actually composed of 4 stores under one roof.  The store sits on a quaint little street in downtown Norcross which exudes all the charm of a sweet southern town.  The streets are tree-lined, the people are friendly and the ambience is unmistakable!

Lorraine who owns Antique Traditions started the business years ago with her mom, Hazel.  After years of being in business alone she opened up her shop to three women, Carolee, Taylor and Mary, each of whom has their own unique shop under the Antiques Traditions roof.

I can’t fully express to you what a wonderful selection of vintage, handmade and new items Antique Traditions has to offer so I’ll let you enjoy my own personal photo album.

 

This iron star wall grill is one of the stores best-selling items.  I think it would look pretty awesome as a ceiling medallion with a chandelier hanging from the center!

Antique Traditions carries one of my favorite personal care lines, Shelley Kyle!  This line of products will really make you feel pampered!

Lovely accessories

and wonderful textiles!

I loved this table with the carved swan base!

The jewelry selection at Antique Traditions is fabulous and the prices are great.

Handmade soaps and pillows

Adorable baby items, perfect for gift giving! Carolee also offers custom monogramming for many of the items in her boutique.

A wonderful assortment of personal stationery

Vintage lighting, furniture and decorative accents.

Beautiful watercolor art

and whimsical linens.

I love, love, love this necklace!

Isn’t this chandelier fabulous.  I can envision it hanging in a bathroom or bedroom.

There is a wonderful selection of artwork

and mirrors!

And lots of lovely trinkets!

A few of these metal tags came home with me

and you know I love this cloche!

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to meet the women of Antique Traditions.  With so many specialty retailers closing their doors, it is great to know that a store like Antique Tradition is thriving and creating a special shopping destination for its customers.  I’ll definitely be making lots of visits back to the store and look forward to checking out the rest of downtown Norcross.  Thanks Lorraine for inviting me as the special guest at your event!

Antique Traditions

109 South Peachtree Street

Norcross, GA 30071  770-263-7761

http://theshopsofantiquetraditions.com/

And, like Antique Traditions on Facebook here!

 

 

Inspiration + Weekend Reads

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and mom’s everywhere!

A few links I think you’ll enjoy this weekend!

I find this stores business model  and its CEO DISGRACEFUL!

Such inspiration and a beautiful home too!

My favorite on-line mag!

I’m back in jewelry making mode and want to recreate this necklace!

Great advice on fulfilling your dreams!

I love this DIY project and just may have to create my own version!

I never thought I’d think of JC Penney as a source for cute apparel but this, this and this is making me change my mind.

 

DIY Cloche

Happy Friday!

Well, as you can see I didn’t get around to posting my DIY project yesterday.  Instead, I was at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) spending the morning and afternoon with two Million Dollar Decorators! 

Mary McDonald & Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Mary and Martyn shared lots of fabulous design advice with the audience and afterwards spent time chatting with each of us and taking photos.  Much of what they had to share hit home with me and I gained some valuable insights on how I can make my design business better.  Thanks Mary and Martyn!

Now, on to the fun DIY project I want  to share with you…DIY cloches!

You see, I love glass cloches.  There is just something beautiful about displaying items you love under glass as if they were priceless heirlooms.  Since I already have a couple of traditional glass cloches I decided I wanted to add a few more to my mix and this time I wanted them have a bit more style.  With that, a super quick and easy DIY project was born!

I made three cloches each with a different decorative knob handle.  The wood lamp bases really add a lot to the smaller cloche and the decorative plate I used with the taller cloche can easily be changed out when I change the items displayed inside.  I’m still finding the right spot in my home to display each cloche and I’m also going to be changing/adding to the elements inside each one as well.  Plus, I’m looking forward to changing out the looks seasonally, inspired by these cloche displays!

SPRING 

source

SUMMER 

source

FALL

 

source

HOLIDAY

source

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you were inspired to make a cloche of your own!

Have a Great Weekend!

Treasure Hunting: Kentucky Style

Whenever I get the chance to drop in to a new flea market I do.  While we were in Louisville over the weekend I popped into what appeared to be a run down market only to be surprised by the bargains that awaited me!

Isn’t this marbleized cobalt blue ice bucket chic?!  And for only $15.00!

I have a love for milk glass and was thrilled to find this lidded jar for only $8.00.  I love the scroll pattern and the lid handle.

 

This brass planter was the bargain of the day.  It’s super heavy, has really cool handles and bun feet and it was $6.00!!!!  Yeah me!

A vintage glass dyers has been on my shopping list for a while now and I was doing the happy dance because this beauty only cost me $15.00.

 

And finally another  addition to my handbag collection.  This sleek black clutch with a bright red lining was, wait for it…..$5.00!!!

This is why I love to thrift!

If you’re in or near Louisville plan a visit to:

J Town Mall of Vendors

10000 Taylorsville Road

Louisville, KY 40299

I’ll be back tomorrow with a little DIY project I know you’ll love.

The Kentucky Derby 2013: I Went, I Got Wet and I Didn’t Win

Hi there! I hope everyone is easing into the week. After resting up yesterday, I’m feeling better with just a husky voice and a lingering cough the only signs of my cold. I promised I’d be back today to share the highlights of my trip to the Kentucky Derby. If you watched the Derby on TV  you saw that it was raining like cats and dogs so I have to apologize up front that I didn’t get to take as many photos as I wanted and some of the photos are dark given the weather, but there is plenty to see!

First let me say that if you’ve never been to the Kentucky Derby you must add it to your bucket list. It really is a once in-a-lifetime adventure and the best people watching ever. Louisville is a beautiful southern city but when it comes to the Derby, the city transforms into an entirely different place. Pomp, circumstance, big hats and more private jets at an airport than I’ve ever seen before. I’ve been to Churchill Downs before and have attend Kentucky Derby events in the past, but I’ve never attended the official derby day races before and can only describe it as amazing!

Upon arriving in Louisville I told my brother I needed to buy a hat for derby day. He said “no problem” but failed to mention to me what it was like shopping for a hat the day before the derby. OMG!!!!

I visited several stores, saw some beautiful hats and I tried on lots of them. Bold, colorful and overly embellished was the protocol for the derby.  I snapped these photos in a store called Dee’s where you could by pre-made hats, or if you wanted something a little more custom you could buy different elements ($17 for a silk flower) and the store designers would create a hat right there on the spot for you.  So I dove in searched for “my hat”….

 

All the hats I looked at were amazing, but I just couldn’t pay $150 or more for a hat that I would probably only wear once. Yes, $150 was the average price for a hat (even at SteinMart).  The pink and black hat in the photo above was $189.00 and the black and white hat in the top photo was $169.00.  Ladies were buying these hats like they were candy but I just couldn’t go there.

So, what’s a girl to do when she needs a hat for the Kentucky Derby but wants to do it on the down low? She gets creative and pulls out the hot glue gun, that’s what she does!

{keep reading, the unveiling of my hat is coming}

But before the hat could be made there was partying to do…

On our first night in Louisville we attended the Derby Poker Championship Gala where professional poker players and celebrities gathered to play poker with proceeds going to charity.  There was lots of money and cocktails flowing but the highlight of the evening for me was meeting and chatting with legendary basketball coach Denny Crum.  My brother is a VP at the University of Louisville and has worked with Denny for many years so we were able to get a photo with him.

The hubs, me and Denny Crum

The food was flowing, the music was blasting, there was dancing and this amazing artist was on site creating this piece of art.  He started painting at the beginning of the event and had the piece complete by the end of the evening.

The next evening, we attended a formal dinner party hosted by Senator Gerald Neal and his wife.  The event included a wonderful southern dinner, a jazz band, a play and dancing.

The hubs and me in our duds

My brother Dwight and his girlfriend Mary

Needless to say after shopping for a hat, parties and cocktails I was a tired gal but there was still a hat to be made.  Late Friday night I pulled out my supplies and got to work.  My outfit for the derby was this long brightly colored dress so I decided to use a black hat and dress it up with flowers and tulle to match the dress.

I added a green band of ribbon around the cap of the hat

and then added black tulle and big fluffy flowers in orange, white and royal blue.

I didn’t want an over-the-top hat so I was really happy with the way this turned out and for only $50.00.

Saturday morning we set out for Churchill Downs.  It was already raining and luckily we had rain ponchos in the car and stopped at the dollar store for cheap umbrellas we could dump at the gate.

Churchill Downs in a truly amazing structure.  The entire property is enormous and the architectural details are something to be admired.

There was lots of security at the entrance gate so I felt really safe plus all handbags were being check and they were doing body scans too.

The crowds were thick but that didn’t stop me from checking  out all the fashions.  There was lots of classic derby attire like seersucker suits and eyelet dresses

but a few women decided to go be a little bolder with their look.

Many of the men also got the “go bold or go home” message and came dressed to stand out.

The guys above and below couldn’t walk 10 feet without someone asking to take their photo.

Even Colonel Sanders ( with his stunt double) and Abe Lincoln made an appearance.

My brother and Mary took a more sophisticated approach with their derby attire.

Along with the clothes, there were amazing hats, some high style and some more comical.

 

I think this woman forgot she was in Kentucky and not Florida.

An after-Christmas clearance item put to good use

There were lots of celebrities walking the red carpet including Smokey Robinson and his wife.  This was the only picture I was able to get before the crowds drowned me out.

 

Jeez, this post is going on forever so I’m going to leave you with a few more images of Kentucky Derby 2013. 

Here’s the rose garland that was draped over the winning horse.  Did you know that a different Kroger grocery store in Louisville makes this garland each year, the night before the race?

Despite getting really wet and catching a cold, we had a great time.  We are already planning our trip to the derby next year and I’m gathering ideas for my hat.  I think I’m going to be on the “go bold or go home” team for derby 2014!  Why not!

all images by ConfettiStyle

Down and Out, but just for the day!

It’s Monday and if planning for a super busy week wasn’t enough, I’m sick with a cold and really not up to blogging today.  I’m taking today to recoup but will be back tomorrow to share the adventure I had at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.  It was a blast despite the rain, the cold and no big winnings!