A Spring Space Lift for the bedroom

It’s Spring. The temperatures are rising, and it’s a great time to think of lightening up our space. I love the change of seasons for that very reason: opportunities for a change of scene. No matter how your home is decorated, it becomes somewhat old hat after time. We don’t seem to notice what we live with every day.

So, let’s start with the bedroom and give it a space lift. Removing the heavy window treatments, winter’s warm and cozy fabrics, and replacing them with light and airy ones — think decorators’ gauze — can transform the whole feel of a room, as they catch every breeze and become a filmy frame for the outdoors, the trees and the sky above, the lawn and garden below. What a perfect spot for your morning coffee!

Next, strip the flannel sheets and heavy duvet from your bed and replace them with 100% cotton, high thread count percale sheets (Actually, if you are like me, those sheets may be low thread count, but the pattern was cute, the price was right, and they perfectly conveyed the feeling you were looking for.) and perhaps, a matelasse coverlet with a lightweight blanket between them. You’ll feel as though you are in the lap of luxury, in a room at a resort, while all the while waking up in your own bedroom.

I like to switch out the throw rugs also. Replacing the wool and hooked rugs with rag rugs lightens up the look and just feels cooler. And, I love how they look against my off-white painted wood floors. Even if your bedroom is carpeted, you can add a new color and lighter texture by layering rag rugs on top of the carpet to welcome your bare feet in the morning.

Take a good look at the pillows and throws that embellish your bed. Are they looking tired? Here’s your chance. You can change the color scheme or sometimes even the flavor of a room just by replacing a few accessories. They can take you from modern to traditional, from formal to a cottage look, all with very little expense.

Pictures on the wall become invisible if they are not moved around or switched out periodically. Try a new grouping, or put away the dark prints in favor of the florals. Add a bouquet of fresh flowers. Until they are blooming in your own back yard, you may have to buy them. If they have a nice scent, all the better. And, finally, enjoy. You deserve it.

(I thought I'd try my hand at writing a newspaper type decorating column. How did I do?)

Time to get out and work on the yard. Have Monday and Tuesday off from Just A Second, so it's the time to shop for goodies and work around the house. Got the front yard raked on Sunday when it got into the 60's. Now it's time to divide and conquer the back yard. Happy to see that CB2 is featuring bright colors outside because that is what I have -- bright blue and red along with forest green. I'll be moving a few chairs over to the redone patio area at Just A Second. We'll have a mini garden shop including rustic accents, and unusual planters, some waiting for your creative touch, and others planted to suit my fancy.

It's Fall

Have I neglected this blog!
Having fun at the store.
Serving treats today and cider and coffee.
Enjoying the cool outside and the warmth and candles and lamps inside. It's cozy.

Always jumping ahead

Working at Just A Second phasing in Spring. Everything has to be done so far ahead of time. Christmas comes down, Valentine's Day goes up with some St. Patrick's Day and Spring worked in also.

I find home gets a bit neglected with so many hours at the shop. I hear bloggers at other sites talk about simplifying. Good idea. Less but with greater impact - using larger accessories. I love making use of what I already have, but arranging in a new way.

Fall in July

It is almost the end of July, still summer, and here I am already setting the store for Fall. I never have wanted to be someone who rushes the seasons, but when you are in retail, it is what you do. I love Fall. I love to look around and use what I have that brings in a Fall feel. There will still be white cottage furniture and accents but I am accenting it with different colors. I love white year round, but like to warm it up a bit, probably with orange instead of pink in the Fall, and then, of course, red and green at Christmas. Talk about rushing the season! I'll post some new photos soon, so you can see the autumn look at Just A Second.

Outside of Shop

This is the outside of my little shop. You get some indication of the building and the way I love bright colors, especially for summer. I am featuring bright colored chandeliers as seen here.

The Store is Open!!!

The store is open, and the sign is up. I am located in the same building as my husband's and my publishing company. We are now trying to get the word out and create word of mouth advertising. The store is good in that it provides accessories and furnishings for our staging and redesign business, a space lift. Now we can shop in our own store -- not that our space lift clients will be limited to our selection. We shop anywhere, and within our clients' budget.