Online Shopping

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As I said before, I love to find deals and dig through any clearance rack. Recently, I was talking with a friend and explaining this passion of mine. She looked at me and said, "I hate doing that...I just want to find what I'm looking for." For those of you who prefer quick, online shopping take a look through some of my favorite stores for home design.

1. www.allmodern.com

2. www.westelm.com

3. www.ikea.com

4. www.designersguild.com/usa-shop-online/

5. www.crateandbarrel.com

6. www.thecompanystore.com

7. www.potterybarn.com

8. www.thegreatindoors.com

9. www.restorationhardware.com

10. www.urbanoutfitters.com

11. www.target.com

12. www.esty.com

Some of these stores are High Style High Budget. But don't forgot to check out the clearance items. No digging here... just a simple click on the word in red.

Happy Online Shopping!

What is my Style?

When designing a room my first priority is always to meet the wants and needs of the client. As I am beginning to design more and more rooms, I am beginning to hear..."What is your style?"

Unsure of exactly how to define my style, I came up with "Unique Contemporary."

In relation to Unique , I like a room that reflects some originality. Something that makes the room special to the owner and makes it one of a kind. An antique or homemade item, are examples of personal touch that glorify a room. Simply stated, cookie-cutter rooms are not for me.

In relation to contemporary, I like clean lines, and up-to-date furniture, or furniture of "today." I like the neutral color schemes with pops of bright, accent colors. Contemporary design is simple, sleek, and fresh. Comfortable and cozy. Warm and inviting.

When I took the What is my Style quiz, from HGTV I got the following results:
"My style is Eclectic: Anything goes as long as it goes together. Blending different eras and styles with a single statement. " I partly agree with my results. I do not like a room too busy that is looks disjointed. Single statement with a equal balance of unique and contemporary fits the mold.

Stayed tuned for upcoming pictures of more room makeovers.

When to Save and when to Splurge?

Redoing a room doesn't have to cost thousands of dollars. It's important to know When to Save and when to Splurge. When working with a limited budget it can be confusing and frustrating on deciding where to spend the buck.





1. New furniture-Save and Splurge
Depending on what you need and your budget, I say both. If you need a new bed, I say splurge. Beds last a looooong time (most warranties are for 25 years) and a good night sleep is not something to gamble with. My husband and I splurged on the sleep number bed and I absolutely love it. On the other hand, if your couch is outdated with an ugly floral pattern you can simply save by purchasing a cover that will dramatically change the look without draining the wallet. Stores like Ikea, Walmart, and Target carry inexpensive furniture that can quickly update a space without spending too much.

Anything you buy that will last for years is a good reason to splurge. Sometimes if you buy cheap furniture it doesn't last as long. It all depends on your budget and what you need



2. Paint-Splurge
Buying paint isn't too big of a splurge because paint is rather inexpensive. Painting any room is one of the top ways to update or change a room. Purchasing paint is low-cost and adds pazazz to any room.




3. Accessories-Save
Accessories can be found anywhere, on any clearance rack, but still spice up any room. Pictures frames, pillows, and lamps can all be bought for cheap if you're willing to dig. For example, I was recently at Salvation Army and found 2 picture frames for $1.99 each. With a coat of white paint, they look fresh and new.

Tips for Saving:
1. Work with what you already have (keep your ugly chair-buy a new cover)
2. Shop at inexpensive stores and search for items on clearance
3. Use coupons
4. Do as much as you can yourself (don't hire outside help if you can do it yourself)

Deals of the Day

Check out these great items--ON SALE

1. The Company Store is having a sale. Check out their coverlets, down comforters and these cute kids sheets. For more of there clearance, click here. This is where I purchased the green coverlet for my bed in my room makeover.



2. Skip Hop Lamps on sale for $27.00 from www.allmodern.com. These simple lamps will add a splash of color to any nursery.



3. Plates from from French Bull. These are not on sale, but are rather cheap and so colorful I couldn't resist. $11 each.



4. Decorative Pillows from www.cb2.com Full of bright colors and hip designs.


Happy Shopping!

Adding Color to Any Room

So many people become overwhelmed when redoing a room. Choosing the color scheme can be one of the hardest choices but also one of the most important. Do I want to go bold or play it safe? How do I know what colors compliment one another?

Today I was thrilled to receive a brand new, FREE Behr paint booklet with all of their paint color samples. I never knew so many colors existed.

A few simple tips for adding color:

1. Travel to a store with a lot of pillows. Pier one has an excellent array of pillows. Find a pillow in a color you like. Sometimes one pillow is made up of multiple colors. Pull colors from the pillow to use in your room. In my room make over, I pulled colors from the decorative pillow I found at Target. It will keep the colors limited yet cohesive. David Bromstad, from Color Splash found color inspiration for this makeover simply from the pillows on the couch.



2. If you set on a particular bold color, like teal or orange but are hesitant of over-doing it, use a neutral paint color and accent with accessories in your chosen color.

David Bromstad, the host of Color Splash does this very well.



3. Adding a focus wall (painting just one wall a different color than the rest of the room) is another way to bring in a hint of color.

For more ideas from David Bromstad, click here.

Price Breakdown

Recently I showed you the before and after of my personal bedroom makeover. My goal for every makeover is to create something High Style on a Small Budget. Bargain hunting is the key and something I absolutely LOVE to do. There is nothing better than scoring a deal on anything I buy. I am thrilled when I save with coupons or receive a free milk at the grocery store. Negotiating for free wood at Home Depot (which I did finally win) or saving $6 on my dreaded oil change are just a few examples of my passion for saving.



So here is the breakdown of what I bought, how much it cost, and any deals I received in the process...


Grand Total: $276.98

On certain items I saved and on others I splurged. Check back to see When to Save and When to Splurge.

so Simple yet so Stunning

The last piece of my room makeover involved making the wall decoration over my bed. Keeping in mind I wanted something lost cost without compromising the style of the room. I also wanted something that followed the color scheme and brought out the brown in the curtains.

I am recently learned to sew and have fallen in love with the fabric store (I spent over 2 hours there last week). With a lot of options for color and designs, I knew I wouldn't have any trouble finding the colors I needed.

Read on to discover how simple it is to create your own Fabric Wall Art....

Materials Needed:
-Fabric of your choice
-Foam Board
-Hot glue gun
-Foam poster/picture mounting squares

1. Cut the foam board into the shape you want. I personally used squares. Cut the board with a sharp knife or an Xacto knife. It can be difficult to cut foam using scissors.
*Another option for your base it to use a wooden frame. I have used wood in the past, but have found foam board is much lighter and easier to hang. If you use wood, you need nails and a bracket to hang it.

2. Lay fabric down and place foam board on top. Cut your fabric leaving an extra inch on each side. (if fabric is wrinkled, iron it for a smooth finish)


3. Pull fabric tight and glue fabric onto the back of the board.
*The corners can be tricky...2 tips. Cut the excess fabric from the corners so when folded you don't see a bump or fold the corners like a you do when wrapping a present.

4. Add foam mounting squares, hang, and your all done.

so Simple yet so Stunning!


I did my entire project for $11.40. I bought all of my materials for this project at Joann's Fabric Store. (I already had the hot glue gun).

I love making my own creations for 3 reasons:
1. It's personal and reflects my own style.
2. It is super inexpensive.
3. I enjoy it and I love that feeling of "accomplishment" when I'm finished.

If you are inspired to make your own...send your pictures my way mmhessen@gmail.com

Personal Bedroom-Before and After

My own personal bedroom was in major need of color and style. I wanted to create a more inviting feel but nothing to overbearing. At the same time, I wanted to be cost efficient. When I got married, we acquired all my husbands bedroom furniture. Don't get me wrong, I love the furniture; however, great modern furniture can still become lost in a bare room. Our room before was boring, colorless.... just check out the pictures.

BEFORE:









Wow, I'm glad I do not sleep there anymore.

AFTER:















There it is. Hope you like it.
Check back for more posts on how I made this transformation. I'll tell you what I personally made, the cost breakdown, and what I think EVERYONE needs in their bedroom.