*WARNING: Crazy good before-and-afters ahead!*

A few weeks ago, Julia contacted me wanting a little advice concerning her dining room.

{Julia’s dining room BEFORE}

 {Julia’s dining room BEFORE}

She wanted to introduce some contrast with a navy and white color scheme.  Julia mentioned painting the ceiling. She asked that the dining table, bench seating, curtains and mirror stay. She was ‘iffy’ on the pendant light and dining chairs.  Julia felt the hand-me-down rug was too small for the space as well.

I suggested that Julia first declutter the room by removing the bookshelf, wall art and kid’s table. You know I like some high contrast, so I suggested Julia paint the walls above the chair rail navy and the walls below the chair rail white.  If she really wanted to paint the ceiling, I thought a nice light gray would look nice.  While the dark velvet curtains were of high quality, I asked Julia if she would be able to relocate them to another room in her home.  The visual weight of the dark curtains would have felt heavy against navy walls.  Instead, I suggested Julia hang lighter, subtly patterned panels to pop against the navy walls and give the room a touch of pattern.  I am fond of natural seagrass or sisal in dining spaces – especially when kids are involved – as they hold up nicely against crumbs and spills. I relayed this to Julia as well.  Julia was wanting new dining chairs to contrast with her warm wood table but I told her I didn’t think new chairs were necessary since the current ones had a nice simple shape to them. If anything, she could paint them white for more contrast if she so desired.  I recommended painting the wall mirror gloss white to pop against the navy walls.  Finally, I asked Julia to DIY a nature-inspired table centerpiece by gathering a bunch of leafy branches from outside and plopping them into a vase.

Julia did exactly what I love to see people do when I offer them advice.  She took all my suggestions, interpreted them to fit her time frame and budget, and RAN with them!

Check out Julia’s warm and inviting dining room now…

The navy walls are Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy which Julia chose herself and had color-matched in Olympic’s no VOC paint.  She painted the chair rail and walls below white to match the existing trim.  The white chair rail keeps the navy from feeling oppressive.  Julia decided against painting the ceiling gray once she saw the result of the navy walls and white chair rail together.  Julia also chose to remove the heavy velvet curtains to reveal white sheers beneath.

The chunky table and bench stayed and, to save time and money, Julia borrowed a larger 8′x10′ cream and gray rug from her living room. For now, Julia has chosen to keep her dining chairs as is. Personally, I hope they continue to grow on her.  I love ‘em just the way they are, contrasting warmly with the white and navy.

Julia did a great job of decluttering and emptying the room of unnecessary furniture pieces.  She opted to keep a petite console beneath the wall mirror to ground the mirror.

The newly painted white mirror really pops against and brightens the moody navy walls.

And check out those amazing, blazing branches on display in the center of the table!  Julia clipped them from outside and brought them indoors, adding just the right amount of accent color to the room.  Gorgeous.

Even though the adjoining kitchen and sunroom are lighter in color, the new navy walls tie in nicely with Julia’s tiled kitchen backsplash and patterned throw on the back of the sofa in the sunroom. Making an effort to repeat colors – even in small doses – in each room of a home is a great way to keep things feeling cohesive.

And now for a side-by-side, before-and-after comparison because…well, because everyone likes a good before-and-after.

That’s one amazing transformation, isn’t it?!  The navy walls work well in Julia’s dining room because there are a lot of ‘breaks’ in the walls: doorways to adjoining rooms, a large window, a light-bouncing mirror and the white chair rail.

Who would have guessed that this jaw-dropping makeover only cost Julia the small price of paint and painting supplies for the navy walls?  {She used leftover white paint in her basement for the chair rail.} Yet another great example of how decluttering + a little paint can transform a ho-hum room.  Ah, the power of paint.  Not every great ‘after’ has to happen with demolition and renovation!

Thanks, Julia, for sharing your new dining room.  You did an awesome job!  I’m inspired.  And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.

What’s your favorite part of Julia’s dining room makeover?  I’m totally diggin’ the deep navy walls and that Mother Nature-inspired centerpiece.

FYI – To read and see more about Julia’s dining room makeover, including a few in-progress shots, click over to her Happy Happy Home blog.

images:  all courtesy of Julia from Happy Happy Home

So, yesterday you got a peek {albeit a very detailed peek} at my vacation in the mountains of western North Carolina.  But Lakeview at Fontana wasn’t the only place that caught my eye while kicking up my feet.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover a stylish lil’ shop in downtown Bryson City, NC.  May I introduce to you, Humanité:  dwelling.  style.  compassion.

As soon as stepped in the door, I knew I’d be there for a while.  I’m pretty sure Handy Hubby noticed the crazed look in my eyes and said, “oh no.”  Luckily, I’d stuck my camera in my bag.  I immediately approached the woman at the counter who just so happened to be the owner, Erin.  She was nice and said it would be fine for me to take pics and post them on my blog.  {Yeah, I asked.  I probably would have begged if she’d said no.} It was later in the evening, so I apologize for the lack of natural light in the photos.  Surely, I’d have come earlier if I’d known I was gonna find this gem.  Anyhow, I started snapping pics not really knowing where to begin.  I couldn’t take it all in.  Not only was the inventory {clothing, accessories, home goods} right up my alley but I couldn’t get over how everything was displayed.  So clever.

A display of frames, bags, pocketbooks and stationery greeted me at the door.  The bright colors and patterns were a great contrast to the natural wood tones.

There were many elements of nature to be found, too.  From all the old barn wood {which had been salvaged from a barn that Erin’s father-in-law had recently torn down} to the pops of green to the branches hung in the front window…it was easy to see that the outdoors had inspired many of the design elements.

The clothing and jewelry displays were amazing.  Quite creative.  Denim jeans were hung from pegs on a piece of painted barn wood.  A shutter screen held earrings and headbands.  And clothing on hangers was held up by galvanized pipe rods.  Industrious, no?

Erin told me that as a child she and her mother would scope out housing demolition sites and retrieve shutters among other things.  Erin dry brushed the shutters and now uses them as clothing racks.  I don’t know which I love more…the racks or the story behind them.

My favorite display included paper maché trees draped with jewelry.  I seriously took about a buh-zillion pictures of these jewelry trees alone and had a hard time narrowing them down.  I’m totally inspired to do something similar in my bathroom for necklaces, bracelets and such.  And can you imagine the Halloween possibilities for these sculptural trees?  With some painted gourds and mini-pumpkins, these babies could lean towards creepy.

Erin is keen on ‘green’ labeled apparel items.  Organic materials and conscientious manufacturing are highly sought.  She also strives to reuse and repurpose old furniture pieces.  In fact, the sofa {where Handy Hubby so patiently waited while I did my wild woman thing} was once Erin’s grandmother’s.  She had it reupholstered in a modern print fabric.  The register island is constructed out of yet more barn wood.

The bigger picture from the back of the store…

And here’s the adorable Erin doin’ what she does best…

Thanks so much, Erin, for letting me close down shop with you last Tuesday.  {Yes, I was that person I love to hate.  The one who holds everybody else up.}  I could have talked her ear off about design blogs if I hadn’t been careful.  But she was very generous to let me snoop around.  Oh!  And she actually is generous too…10% of her profit goes to charities helping to improve local and international communities.  If you want to check out more about Humanité, link over to Erin’s blog.

So, what did I take away from this stylish store?  Definitely to find new uses for old things.  Worn and rustic {old wood, secondhand furniture, concrete countertops} go quite well with modern touches {pops of color, contemporary fabric, steely metals}.  I think I finally have a plan for my bedroom makeover!

Handy Hubby and I are fast approaching our 8th wedding anniversary.  In all the time since we’ve been married, we’ve only taken 1 vacation by ourselves…our honeymoon.  A real vacation without the kiddos, family members or any other distractions was long overdue.  So a few months back, we planned a getaway for just the 2 of us and it finally rolled around last week.  We enjoyed some great R&R via Lakeview at Fontana in North Carolina.  I came across their feature in Southern Living magazine earlier this year and it sounded too good to be true:  low-key, cozy, small scale and secluded.  Not to mention crazy affordable.  Think less than $90 a night for a basic room.  {We brought along a borrowed mini-fridge and stayed during the week to save even more money.}  Well, it wasn’t too good to be true.  The staff was friendly and accommodating.  The lake and mountain views were phenomenal.  Hiking and biking trails were located nearby.  Local eateries served up some awesome grub {try Lulu’s in Sylva, NC!}.  And the hour massage following my first mountain bike excursion wasn’t too bad either.  But, you know me, I tend to be inspired by all things.  Lakeview did not disappoint.  I was surprised by how chic the decor was that I just had to share it with you.  So prepare yourself for some major eye candy.

Now I know it says ‘resort and spa’ and that usually conjures up visions of pretentious hotels but, really, this place is totally a ‘kick your shoes off, wear sweatpants every day and walk slowly’ kinda place.  Meet Wally, the venue’s mascot.  {I’m not a cat person but I wanted him to come home with me on our last day.}

As you pull up to the resort, here’s what awaits.

Have you ever seen such a stylish office door?  {Don’t even get me started on the fabulous craftsman doors.}

As soon as we walked into the office to check in, I told Handy Hubby I wanted to come back.  We hadn’t even been there 5 minutes.

Past the desk is the the TV lounge {the one and only TV on the premises} and guest computer.

They used the oldest trick in the book for making the small room feel larger…tall, leaning mirrors propped up across from the window.

I was in love with this vase.

And this door holder.

The employees weren’t shorted on style either.  Just take a look at the adjoining office space.

So, that’s the main building…where you can check in, watch some TV, sit by the fire, surf the internet or ask staff for local restaurant suggestions.  Now onto the coffeehouse where you are served a light breakfast daily {the fresh French press coffee is divine} along with complimentary wine and cheese in the early evening.

I think these windows were my favorite design element of the entire resort.  They fold open.

Inside, this utilitarian kitchen had me at hello.  The medallion on the peninsula is a great yet simple focal point along with the trio of pendant lights.  Yum.

Can you say painted, open cabinetry?

This utensil storage is a work of art.

A few steps up, and you can look down into the kitchen/dining area.  The concrete floors are painted to look like old tile.

Do you spy the coffee table bottom right?  It’s a salvaged door attached to a terracotta planter.  Ingenious.

The upper floor of the coffeehouse is home to a few booths simply formed from a built-in bench, a freestanding table and 3 dining chairs.  Comfy pillows beg you sit and stay for a while.

Handy Hubby and I spent an evening at a booth working a puzzle.  Doesn’t that sound boring?  But it wasn’t.  It was so quiet and relaxing.  Just what we needed.  Alright, back outside to show you more of Lakeview.

The uh-mazing view.  My God, the view…

The flower boxes…

More of those gor.ge.ous cottage doors…

Driveway lanterns…

Outdoor vignettes…

I’m not the only one who likes porch pews…

Don’t you want to visit Lakeview?  You should.  Handy Hubby and I had such a casual, relaxing few days here.  We will be back.  A few words of wisdom:  Lakeview is not the place for people looking for lights, noise and action.  Creaky floors?  Sounds of nature?  Spotty phone and internet service?  Mountain views?  Imperfect perfection?  A break from real world stimulation?…then, yes, this is where you need to be.  It’s the first vacation I’ve been on where I didn’t feel like I needed a vacation from my vacation when I got home.  And all the decor inspiration was icing on my cake.  What’s your favorite part?

Come back tomorrow to tour a local North Carolina shop that knocked my socks off.

FYI – H*T receives no form of payment for this review.  I just like sharing good stuff when it crosses my path.

This is me trying my hand at a little something I like to call Tweak Peeks. It seems every home I visit (whether friend, family or stranger) inspires me in some way. Tweak Peeks allow me to share that inspiration with you!

Sorry.  I know it’s been a while since my first Tweak Peek.  Not that I haven’t been inspired by anyone else’s home.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite case.  I always seem to forget my camera (duh!) or sometimes feel a little weird asking people to photograph their home for my blog.  But the stars aligned just right when my lovely neighbor (and friend), Heather, allowed me to showcase her home.  And I remembered my camera!  Here are a few inspiring shots from Heather’s home.

Just inside the front door you’re greeted by this two-story entry.  You know I’m a fiend for useful furniture and that bench with storage underneath just makes my knees wobbly.  The sculptural wrought iron wall art is icing on the cake.  (Turtle cake.  With no nuts.)

As you walk to the back of Heather’s home, you are met by an expansive wall of windows in her sunroom.  A natural light haven…aaaahh.  Heather has them framed with two pair of IKEA’s panel curtains suspended by a track.  Isn’t that inventive?!  I love the touch of mod that it adds to an otherwise traditional room.

The way that the patterned panel is layered over a slightly darker panel allows the subtle branch pattern to stand out a little more.  (Layering is always good in my book.)  And see how the light filters through the panel?  Yep.  It’s dreamy.

Just off the open sunroom is Heather’s family room where she and her family watch TV, play Wii and dabble in a little Rock Band.  (Yes, I’ve been there for a little rockin’ out too.)  Everything from the comfy, kid-friendly sectional to the bold artwork above the fireplace lets guests know this is a fun place to hang out.  It is!

Down a hallway, separated from the open living space, is Heather’s formal dining room.  (Unlike me) Heather is an awesome – and I mean AWESOME – cook.  Let’s just call her a chef, shall we?  So, in the case of someone who actually makes delectable dinners, a formal dining room is a must.  The sparkling chandelier in the hallway draws you in and the red walls beg you to stay for dessert.  When the kids are tucked in bed, the buffet/bar opens up and can hold its own against at least 3 couples.

Upstairs, Heather’s 2 children have bedrooms that any kid would love to sleep in.  Heather’s teenage daughter’s room is young and sophisticated with a color palette of plum, gray, white and black.  Who’da thought to use mirrors as a headboard?  Genius.  And I can’t get enough of that chandelier wall decal.  The black stripe around the entire room is chalkboard paint – perfect for daydreaming, doodling teenagers to dawdle on – as is the desk’s top.  The framed IKEA prints above the desk add a splash of purple to tie into the plum duvet.

On the other end of the spectrum is Heather’s son’s room.  Caleb is an active toddler and his bedroom is colorful and playful.  The art above the chest is an original that Heather’s sister painted herself!  And when Caleb is older the changing table easily converts to a dresser.  A little personalization in the form of C-A-L-E-B framed individually and hung with colored ribbon is too sweet.

So, there you have it.  A few snippets from Heather’s traditional home with a modern twist.  What’s your favorite decor trick that Heather uses?  Mine is the layered IKEA panels.  Thank you, Heather, for letting me feature your home!  (And for all those Homeade Taco Nights!)

This is me trying my hand at a little something I like to call Tweak Peeks. It seems every home I visit (whether friend, family or stranger) inspires me in some way. Tweak Peeks allow me to share that inspiration with you!

My friend and neighbor, Sarah, kindly offered up her house for me to ‘peek’ in. I knew immediately that I wanted to feature the rustic dresser she uses as an entryway catch-all.  Upon entrance into her home, you are met by this lovely hand-me-down dresser that once took up residence in a previous bedroom. 

You know I love form meeting function… things looking stylish but serving a purpose too.  This dresser sets the stage for the style of the rest of the house.  Casual, rustic.  At the same time, it serves as a quick dropzone for mail/keys, a display area reflecting the seasons or family events and also as a storage piece.  (The middle drawer is filled to the brim with candles!  So, that’s why her house always smells so good.) 

A large mirror rests atop the dresser, leaning against the wall.  Leaning (versus hanging) mirrors, frames or artwork always provide a casual ambience.  The mirror allows for quick, last minute appearance checks before leaving the house or answering the door.

 A sculptural metal tray corrals keys and incoming or outgoing mail. 

At the time these photos were taken, a small pink bouquet was on display, leftover from Sarah’s daughter’s birthday party.  (She has 3 daughters!)  A black-and-white framed photograph of her youngest daughter and a large hurricane candleholder round out the display.

As I mentioned before, the tablescape of the dresser changes with the seasons allowing Sarah to switch it up at any time.  (One of my faves is when it is covered in filmy cobwebs for their annual Halloween Party!)

So, how goes your entryway?  Does it lend a feel to the style of your house?  Casual or formal?  Can it provide adequate storage if necessary?  Sarah addresses all of these things beautifully in her dresser-turned-dropzone.