Master Bedroom

After 12 years of marriage I'm ashamed to say that my "master bedroom" leaves a lot to be desired.  It's bare, cold and doesn't feel like the retreat it should be.  :-(

My goal for this year is to create that master retreat every couple should have.  I'm going to start with a clean slate.  New bedding, new curtains, new accessories and a lock on the door and a huge sign that reads "NO KIDS ALLOWED!"  Totally not kidding.

My dilemma, picking a color palette.  Where to begin?  Do I go neutral?  Do I go bold?  Do I do crisp, clean, white?  Or do I do bold patterns?

I have been doing my homework and building a mood board or idea board of what I want.  The more I play with it, the more I like it.  Both of these designs are beyond what my budget could afford, but it's an inspiration to build from.

I strongly recommend that before you begin to decorate any room that you create an inspiration board similar to this.  You can use a website like Olioboard, Polyvore or Pinterest, or you can simply collect images from magazines you get.  That's how I started.  This will help you to visualize the room and avoid buying a whole bunch of stuff that doesn't work together.

I have two options.  Tell me which is your favorite.

By the way, if you have a Pinterest account be sure to follow me.  

Follow me on Pinterest

Master Bedroom by idbutterflykisses featuring a linen dust ruffle

Creating A Kid Friendly Kitchen

If you have small children you are very likely to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  You also know that they shadow you wherever you go and mimic whatever you do.  It's inevitable.  A kitchen isn't exactly the safest place for a small child to be.  There's a lot of movement, sharp corners, cabinets full of "cool toys" they can't play with, and it can be germy (if that's a word).

But the kitchen shouldn't be off limits to them.  It's a great opportunity for them to explore and learn to do what Mommy is doing (okay, in some cases Dad too).  It also serves as an opportunity for them to get familiar with daily routines, chores, and become independent and assist with preparing family meals and serving.

Having two kids of my own I found myself having to do this when my kids were smaller.  Especially since my daughter was, as mentioned above, my shadow.

I've compiled a few ideas of how you can make your own kitchen kid friendly.  I would show you some accommodations I've made in my own home, but I'm in the middle of packing up my house so not everything is as it should be, and many things are chaotic.

Here's a list of some things you can do:

1. Make room for crawlers:  keep unnecessary items of the floor and remove things they can pull on.
2. Consider having a step stool that they can use to reach things above them and avoid climbing.
3. Install child safety hardware wherever necessary.
4. Add a dry-erase or chalkboard where they can entertain themselves, and put it low enough that they can reach.
5. Have a kids-only drawer or cabinet.  Keep dishes they use everyday or items they can entertain themselves with while you're busy cooking.
6. Keep everyday allowed snacks, cereals and non-refrigerated drinks in a cabinet low enough for them to reach.
7. For older kids you can set some safety rules in place that must be followed in order to be allowed in the kitchen.
8. Have kid-friendly products they are allowed to use.  

I hope that you can use of them in your own home, and if you have any ideas of your own, or images you'd like to share, please chime in.  I'd love to hear/see them.

An Empty Shell

Have you ever walked in to some one's home and wondered if maybe they had just moved in?  Only to find out they've been living there a long….long time!  The rooms are so empty that you hear an echo and probably even wonder if it's their home, lol.

That's what I consider an empty shell.  A home should never feel like an empty shell.  It should feel warm, inviting, and lived in.

I've come across many people who have told me they have no clue what to do when it comes to decorating and therefore their homes are "empty shells".  Or worst, they have a miss-mash of hand-me-downs and mismatched, uncoordinated items.  Let me tell you I understand this phase very well because I've been through it.  When I first got married I bought furniture that I loved, but that's where it ended.  I had no artwork, rugs, curtains, or any decor that said anyone cared about the place.

However, I also don't feel that you should buy everything at once and just throw it around in any room without giving it any thought.

Everything in your home should look like treasure you've collected over time.  They should tell a story.  

With time we'll discuss more about how to purchase your treasures and get out of that empty shell phase.  But for now, you have a mission.  The next time you're considering buying something for your home, think about where it's going to go, what is it going to complement, what's its purpose, and more importantly, is it worth the investment?  Everything you buy for your home should be considered an investment, therefore you aren't buying something you'll hate in a month and just spend a ton of money on.

Quickly here are some tips to keep you're home from looking like an empty shell.

     - Cover your windows:  Use curtains or roman shades.  These can be expensive, so consider them an investment.  Buy them only if you're truly in-love with them.

  

     - Proper seating:  Have enough furniture for your family members (and guests) to sit on.  Mismatched chairs in the living room is not proper seating.  Lawn chairs int he dining room, also is not proper seating.  The furniture in the room should speak to its designated use.

     - Add some character to your floors with rugs:  A welcome mat outside, a rug to clean the dirt of your shoes at all entrances, and a decorative rug that anchors the furniture in the room can do a lot to bring a room to life.  

     - Proper lighting:  Nothing is more unappealing than a dark room.  It's uninviting, creepy and cold.  Older homes may not have lighting that comes from the ceiling, but you can always add some lamps to cozy up the space.

    - Put something on your walls:  Artwork, family photos, wall decor..all or any of these things will help complete a room nicely.  Empty walls are cold and "empty".  Remember you can always change it out.  Just make sure that what you put on your walls coordinates well with the rest of the furnishings in the room.

Most importantly, don't forget to have fun!!

Welcome

If ever there was a time to begin a new journey, this would be it.  The beginning of a new year that is sitting on the edge of the beginning (sort of) of a new life.

First, a little bit about myself.  I am a wife of 12+ years, and mother of two wonderful and amazing children.  My son, Jalen is 9 years old and my daughter Nathalia (we call her by her middle name, Zoe) is 7 years old.  I am your typical stay-at-home-mom, and I'm also a part-time student.

What am I studying, you ask?  I'm glad you did.  I am studying to be an Interior Designer.  Yes!  Interior design has been a passion of mine since I discovered what it was after I got married, and realized I now had to decorate my own place, and had no idea what to do or where to begin.  Thankfully I have come a long way since!

Fast forward to 2007 when I lost my job.  Boo hoo…not!  It truly was one of the happiest moments of my life.  This gave me the opportunity to begin the journey I am currently on.

Long story short, in 2009 I decided to go back to school to get my BFA in Interior Design.  Through this journey my husband has been my greatest supporter.  Thanks hun!!  I'll design you the best man cave, and the most rockin' garage someday!

Fast forward again to 2013 (yes, last year) and I am headed headstrong towards my BFA.  Never once have I regretted the decision to go back to school, and never once have I wanted to quit!  Mind you my kids were very small when I went back to school (ages 2 and 4).  And my husband has been just as tough to stick through it all these years.

So forward to the present, January 2014, and today I decided to write my first blog post.  Blogging has been on my mind for some time but I wasn't sure where to begin.  Feeling I'd been missing out on a great opportunity I decided to not put it off any longer, and just dive in.

So here I am.

What should you expect from this blog?  Well, I'm not sure how to answer that but I can tell you what you will get.  First you will get a personal experience and a virtual taste of what it means to me to be a student in the Interior Design field.  It's way more than I ever expected.  Secondly, you'll get a little taste of what my own home looks like.  I rent so the place isn't as perfect as I'd like it to be, but that's the reality and I'm making the best of it.  Also, I will share with you what I have learned throughout my years of school, my experiences in decorating my own home, and real life tips and tricks that will help you decorate your own home.  Lastly, together we will go on a journey that has me going from Chicago to Georgia in a matter of months, where my new journey/life will begin (a little more on that later on).

So thank you for stopping by, and taking the time to read this way-too-long intro.  And please, come back to see what I have to share!

Sincerely,
Idania De Jesus
iDesign


P.S.  Here is a sneak peak of what my home looks like…sort of.  I've changed a few things since I took these pictures, but will soon post more current photos.