Wall stencils are all the rage right now, and why not? They’re 99.9% dummy proof.  

If you’ve ever tried to DIY and failed miserably, applying a wall stencil is a sure fire way to give your crafty self an ego boost. Look at this woman, care of Cutting Edge Stencils.

That looks totally DIY-able, doesn’t it? From what I can tell, she:

1.) Purchased a set of stencils from people that actually know what they’re doing, i.e. Cutting Edge or Stencil 1. (To ensure success, splurge on the more expensive pre-cut ones. Otherwise you’re going to have to use an actual craft knife.)

2.) Applied a base color, patiently allowing it to dry overnight (FYI, impatience has felled every DIY project I’ve ever attempted.)

3.) Measured (like, with a ruler or tape measure, imagine that!) the wall to determine how many times the stencil should be repeated.  Here’s another tip: don’t guess-timate. Try marking each spot with a pencil.

4.) Attached the stencil to the wall.

5.) Poured a small amount of paint – not all of it – into a saucer.

6.) Picked up a small roller and painted.

If you can master the six steps above, just imagine the possibilities. You could stencil yourself an aviary:

A harem straight out of Marrakech:

A butterfly zoo:

Perhaps even a real zoo, not that butterflies in and of themselves aren’t thrilling:

A disco for your baby:

A half-price chandelier:

A diner:

A coat rack:

You could even stencil a (bath)Room of Your Own:

That, dear friends, is crafty rebellion.

 ALSO CHECK OUT:

11 DIY Alternatives to Traditional Christmas Trees

12 Free Green DIY Projects

5 DIY Alternatives to Holiday Gift Wrap

12 DIY Projects for a Green Geek

Images: Cutting Edge Stencils; Stencil 1; The Stencil Studio; House to Home; Apartment Therapy; Kristen F. Davis Designs; Design Amour

Un-styling your space by just being yourself, continuously.

I’m certain we covered close to everything there is to know about the art of undecorating in parts one and two, and it’s almost time to call it a wrap. You know the rules because there aren’t any, other than trusting your instincts.

And if your instincts tell you to hire a professional designer, then by all means, do it. But why not give undecorating a try?

The concept of undecorate just takes styling your home to a simpler level, without the pressure of perfection. It loosens you up a bit, asks you to sit back, relax and be yourself (which can be very refreshing).

Undecorate is here because our lives have called for it.

Now you just keep going.

I suggest you continue living, working, raising your children, dating, recycling, eating organic. Whatever you do, keep doing it, continuously. And enjoy your space. Look around you every day, notice what you chose, and be inspired.

Observe your life as it evolves and challenge yourself in all that you do. Don’t become complacent. Notice when things don’t matter to you anymore and as things change, allow your space to change as well.

Recycle, get rid of stuff, give it away. Keep undecorating continuously.

Then be grateful that you have the ability to break rules.

Images: nice*room, Avotakka, Sanctuary, interiors porn.

Un-styling your space by just being yourself, randomly.

In Undecorate, Naturally: Part One, we established that the new way to decorate begins and ends with trusting your instincts, choosing what you like and just going for it. There are no wrong answers. The best way forward is straight through your doubts or fears, to the colors, patterns and pieces that express you.

Nothing is holding you back. If there are no rules, what’s next?

Random, that’s what. I encourage you to recognize how random it all is, that you can move stuff around, add something here or take it away from there. Everything changes all the time, and so can your decorating.

If you like the things you choose, it doesn’t matter if they match or clash; they will come together and mesh because they are saying something other than a famous designer’s name or recognizable label. They are saying something about you.

Nothing needs to be set in cement because, well, it isn’t. Except the roof over your head. The way you style your space can be interchangeable room by room, day by day.

Challenge yourself further by randomly selecting things and finding different places for them. See how well the switch acclimates to a new setting. The more random you are, the better you’ll express your space as your own, because you’ve given up trying to create a perfect place and accepted who you are and where you live, as it is. As random and changeable as ever.

Images: Trendey, From the Right Bank, nice*room, interiors porn, House Beautiful.

Un-styling your space by just being yourself, naturally.

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the undoing of decorating. Our piece last week showed us the ins and outs of this new un-style, of letting go of the status quo and allowing a space to be personal rather than perfect.

You can go to school and learn the basics, the 1-2-3s of any craft, but no teacher can transfer the instinctual ability to express style. It’s either in your DNA or not. By knowing yourself and what you like, that doesn’t seem so hard, does it?

Working outside the box, or without any box at all, is just a cliché way of saying go for it, express yourself, thoroughly, from start to finish. Forget who’s watching or judging. Make it real, authentic, all about you. How? By looking around and choosing what you like.

Many outside forces have contributed to this move toward a more personal and relaxed way of setting up a space. Financial issues have changed our attitudes about luxury – less has become more. And the internet has made it easier than ever to explore, resource and shop for just about anything.

However it happened, it’s here. And what a relief. A space doesn’t have to be fancy or filled with expensive items to be extraordinary. It doesn’t require top interior design firms or specialty stores to feel comfortable and lived in. All you need is you.

Inspiration is everywhere. The challenge is using it in combination with your own je ne sais quoi. Only you know what it is and it doesn’t even need a name. It comes naturally. It’s you.

Images: From the Right Bank, dwell studio, Atlanta Bartlett, Nate Berkus, avotakka.

Christiane Lemieux’s new book Undecorate breaks all the rules.

I follow the rules. I don’t park in emergency zones, I wait for my seating section to be called before boarding, and I always sort my recycling. But sometimes I color outside the lines. In fact, I break all social conventions and rules when it comes to design (remember my diatribe against furniture suites and homogeny?), so my heart pitters, patters, and flutters at the notion of Undecorate ($40), by Christiane Lemieux (the founder and creative director of DwellStudio). In this fresh new take on interiors, Lemieux explores spaces that challenge tradition with an eclectic, “love of imperfection and penchant for surprise and unusual juxtapositions.”

The premise of Undecorate sanctions taking hold of your space and taking the liberty to infuse your taste. If you find something you love, it belongs inside your walls – regardless of color, style, function, etc. Embracing diversity among your objects results in a unique aesthetic analogous to Bohemian whimsy.

Here’s an excerpt to ponder from the introduction of Undecorate.

“What does it mean to undecorate? A fine question.

It’s mixing fine antiques with your collection of Cher Barbie dolls, as Harry Heissman does in his description-defying apartment in Brooklyn Heights. It’s leaving temporary party decorations up for years because they just somehow seem right, as Erica Tanov does in her ridiculously beautiful California house. It’s wedging antique columns into a suburban house, or parking your cars in the living room, or building your own alter, or hanging vintage advertising posters in your toddler’s bedroom. Undecorated is following your instinct, even when it’s telling you to do something a little crazy, a little different, something against the rules.

Undecorating isn’t haphazard style; it’s not thought-free. It’s about being guided by something other than the traditional constraints – whether it’s your commitment to the environment, or your love of polka dots, or the fact that you want to feel like you’re in Paris when you live in Peoria.”

What’s not to love, right? I’m off to order my copy here. May I suggest you do the same? And don’t let it linger on your coffee table alone, set it beside one of these beautiful bound pictorial creations.

Images: Melanie Acevedo for Undecorate

Let spring inspire a fresh touch in your home.

As spring’s pollen swirls and buds plump up to open, these vivid products will incorporate a bit of charm into your home while channeling the saturated colors and whimsy of nature. Leaf prints, mercury birds, wine bottle tumblers, a notebook to hold your thoughts, organic sheets, and a pillow reminiscent of grass blades are just what the season demands.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Coconut Palm Letterpress Specimen Print – Mossiere, $10
2. Antiqued Mercury Glass Sparrow – My Sparrow, $12
3. Wine Punt Drinking Glasses – Pigeon Toe Ceramics, $10 – 12
4. Diamond Notebook – Piegeon Toe Ceramics, $8
5. Azure Fern Sheet Set (Blue) – Anthropologie, $119.95
6. Ziddi Linen Cushion (Green) – Branch Home, $128

This bold kitchen is the culmination of vivid color, bohemian flair and pure comfort. Get this vision in fuchsia, a hot color for spring – only get it greener. Here’s a simple six step plan to effortlessly adapt this look (daresay improve this look) using only environmentally friendly products.

1. Slather a dose of Little Greene Mischief water-based paint on your wall. Get the unassuming look of imperfect texture with a single casual application. Paint on this whimsical color, which is bordering dangerously close to the 2011 color of the year, with confidence.

2. Scour local flea markets and architectural salvage yards for large marquee typography or order a Custom Letter from Hindsvik in raw wood grain. Let the letter rest against your freshly painted fuchsia wall for a delicious contrast, or finish it with paint one shade darker than the wall for a subtle accessory (add a few drops of black paint to your leftover Mischief for the perfect color).

3. Gather a few random patterned tiles to lean against your wall and serve as an impromptu backsplash and eclectic design element (another reason to search local flea markets and architectural salvage yards). Beautiful lavastone tiles from Made a Mano are another lovely option – order a range of patterns, colors, and sizes.

4. Dangle a woven pendant light (your choice of teardrop or spherical) to cast dramatic shadows across the room. If you have a high ceiling, hang an elongated pendant low to create an intimate dining area. If your ceilings are low, select a smaller pendant and hang it close to your ceiling to avoid making your space seem smaller. Tucker Robbins has excellent lighting options (like the stunning Votive Shade). If you’re feeling artistic, give this project a try.

5. The Vintage Fir Cross-Beam Table from VivaTerra will provide a strong anchor for the room. Flank the rugged wooden table with light and crisp Wishbone Chairs from VivaTerra to create a balance of bulk and air. Cap each end of the trestle table with the versatile woven Banda Ottoman from Anthropologie.

6. The final step is to bring a warm and inviting texture to the space. If the allure of lambskin is too strong to refuse, choose an option tanned without chemicals (like the sumptuous Black Sheep White Light products). If you’d sleep better at night knowing there is nothing more than organic cotton in your kitchen, toss a Cable-Knit Throw from VivaTerra across each Wishbone Chair to warm the winter chill.

All the glamour and aesthetic of the gorgeous kitchen above with natural and environmentally friendly products? Yes, please.

Visit all of EcoSalon’s Get the Look ideas for more inspiration.

(Image spotted on Little Blue Deer.)

This Swedish home has a great foundation and floods of natural light. Pristine white walls and light wooden floors ensure the streams of sunlight are bounced around the space. The all white finishes provide a great blank canvas, and the home owner has painted it beautifully.

The entire interior is lovely, but the magic is in the details. The little touches in each vignette that lend life and personality to the space keep it from feeling cold and modern (sometimes harsh geometry and modern lines in all white can feel uncomfortable). Long dangling pendant lights visually lower the ceiling and make the space feel warm and sheltered.

One of the least expensive and effortless ways to breathe life into a space is to literally bring life into a space. Flowers, plants, and any sort of live leafy greens or blooms perk up a space and sprinkle a dose of energy. The perfect combination of longevity (houseplants) and fleeting petals (cut flowers) is on display in this living area.

This dwelling is an artful balance of minimalism and disorder. The furnishings are nominal. The accessories add an element of comfort without taking away from the spacious effect of not having excess furniture. The color is another element of balance in this delightful space. Almost every piece of furniture and each accessory is a saturated color to balance out the white walls, white fixtures, and pale floors. There is something to be said for the contrast of white and color (if you have bold paint on the walls, embellish them with neutral furnishings for a harmonious effect).

The attraction of this space is in the brilliant styling. There is evidence of occupation – a shirt hanging on the door, toys on the bed, and the throw blanket haphazardly thrown over a lounge chair are an open invitation to settle into this space and inhabit the interior.

For more inspiration, check out our archive of home tours.

(Images from Stadshem via Stylizimo.)

Each year the definition of excellent design gets a little further away from those matching bedroom suites where the nightstand, dresser, armoire, and bed frame are the same polished wood boasting identical brass handles; this makes me elated. Dare I say it’s my favorite 2011 shelter trend? It seems when interiors get more eclectic, they get more intimate and personal. Each piece in your home can be something you love, even if your mustard yellow side chair doesn’t quite match the goldenrod pillows on your couch.

Freedom from the demands of matching allows your imagination to run wild with the possibilities of your personality. You can find a tufted sofa to catch your elegance and combine it with a sleek solid wood side chair – an improbable match to make your own.

The best part about these eclectic spaces is the complete originality. When you peruse local flea markets and thrift stores for furniture and accessories, you’ll never walk into your neighbor’s house and find the same dining table (complete with six matching chairs and an analogous hutch for added boredom).

This deliciously cohesive interior full of conflicting components was created and designed by Jarlath Mellett (photographed by Patrick Cline for Lonny). The soft tones and understated elegance is the perfect illustration of how to mix without matching. Plus, the soft tones and calm palette is in stark opposition to the chaotic Bohemian stereotype that usually flutters to mind when the word eclectic is involved.

If matching an ornate old world chandelier with modern streamlined upholstery makes your pulse quicken with anxiety, devour the EcoSalon Style Clash series by Kim Derby. Ms. Derby will painlessly guide you through mixing and matching.

Stay tuned as I guide you through the rest of the 2011 shelter trends.

There’s something perfectly balanced about the combination of exposed wood, raw metal, and plump plum upholstery – all perched on pristine white floors. Besides the crisp white floors (my pragmatic side is all too aware of muddy dog paws), I could move in tomorrow, maybe even today.

The entry to this regal house is the single best vignette in the house. From the antique floor covering made of rushes and leather to the eclectic combination of candlesticks, the sunlight bounces magically around the foyer (click here and learn how to utilize mirrors to capitalize on natural light in your own space).

Tine Kjeldsen is the creative icon behind Tine K Home (based in Denmark, but trickling across the globe). Tine’s personal dwelling (styled with some of the gorgeous products from Tine K Home) is captivating, explore the visual delight (I highly recommend it). Here are a few delicious glimpses.

The most alluring facet about this interior is that you can gather all the details for your own space. Most of the furnishings and accessories are straight out of the Tine K Home catalog. I’ll take one of everything (especially that metal and wood shelf, complete with dishes and ceramics).

(All images from Tine K Home. Journey to Desire to Inspire to see more of this tour.)