3 Must Do Spring Ideas from Ally Whalen Design

Did you ever think winter would let us out of her grips? Yep, we didn't either. The long torturous cold is finally giving way to beautiful weather here in North Carolina. Spring time just gets us in the mood for pretty bulbs, long walks after dinner, and the occasional spritzer on the patio. It got us thinking about a long list of to-do's to make the curb appeal of our home really stand out.

And the list got long...


And it got longer...


And finally we realized that budget, time, and priorities would have to be taken into account before we could complete the Martha Stewart Spring extravaganza curb appeal we had in our minds. You know exactly what we're talking about...step away from Pinterest before your honey-do list starts driving both you and your partner crazy.

We got to thinking that with a fleeting amount of time to spend on sprucing up our home for Spring we needed to get a lot of wow factor with little invested. Here is our suggested list for your top three:

1. A Fresh Door Mat and Custom Potted Plants

Pinterest

It may seem like the typical Spring curb appeal, but notice how custom this mix of hydrangeas and ferns look in these pots? By just taking a few extra minutes at Lowes, you can easily blend a beautiful arrangement together that spruces up your front door. Another overlooked quick fix? Take a look at your door mat. Chances are you probably need a new one. Winter can be rough on door mats and so take the time to update yours. 

2. Mailbox Makeover

Source

You see it every time you pull in your driveway. It's the mailbox. The one item of your outside home decor that is often overlooked. It's like the plain jane step sister that no one notices. Unless, of course you happen to have the neighborhood kid back into it- again. A little bit of spray paint, some fresh flowers, and house numbers can easily make going to get the mail a bit more enjoyable.

4. Front Door Hardware

Source

Another overlooked but majorly impactful curb appeal idea? A fabulous knocker that fits your personality and can give some quick style to your front door. We love this bumblebee knocker from Home Depot. 

So tell us .... what Spring decor updates will you do?

Our top 3 Favorite Neutral Paint colors for 2015

Neutrals never get boring to us. Why? Sometimes you want a paint color to make the statement , but many times it's your favorite accessories and furniture that should make the space. Is there anything more refreshing than a fresh coat of paint? A $30 gallon of paint is one of the most affordable updates you can do to your home, creating a completely new atmosphere without having to refurnish your entire room.
Below is a few of our favorite neutral colors for 2015. We always ebb and flow between our paint colors, however these are some of our tried and true favorites.

Sherwin Williams Sea Salt: At either 100% or 50%.
A beautiful blue-gray that is absolutely perfect for bathrooms as well as bedrooms. Serene and gorgeous as always.

Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

Source

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Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn: 75% or 100%. This tawny greige color is a soft neutral that compliments many different styles.

Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn

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Source

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter: A famous and fabulous color that is great to use when wanting to add a bit more depth to your neutral palate. It looks wonderful up against a lot of white as well.

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

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Our Favorite Etsy Finds

ArtbyOak1

ArtbyOak1: This Toronto based artist hails originally from Korea and has studied both film and art. We love the beautiful colors featured in all the abstract pieces. Reasonably priced and all 100% original.

Elizabeth Mayville

Elizabeth Mayville: We first stumbled upon Elizabeth Mayville on Pinterest many months ago. Her unique perspective and whimsical "Bun" prints are frequently a fond find of many bloggers. We love this particularly for a feminine office or young preteen's room.

Samantha French

We love Samantha French. What's not to love? Her current paintings are reminiscent of warm, sun filled days that transport you to thoughts of peace and tranquility. We also like that you can get many of her prints in 16"x20" for under $200. 

TheClayPlay

The Clay Play on Etsy is a great go to source for interesting, beautiful artwork depicting gorgeous feathers in various hues. Perfect as a beautiful understated piece.

Target Lamp Stylin'

Target Lamp Styles by allywhalendesign

Have you noticed lately that Target is just raising the bar on their home goods? Truthfully, I was really impressed with their new lamp collections they have just debuted. In fact, I was even more surprised when I went online to Target.com and realized you can purchase some really unique, high-end lamps on Target.com. I found their prices to be very competitive, and the best part? Using your Redcard also saves you more money on these beautiful finds. As I've stated previously, I will often times spend a little more in lighting as I feel it really can make a difference in a space. 

Incandescent lamp
target.com

Mudhut grey shade
target.com

Safavieh Jenna Stacked Ball Table Lamp
target.com

Safavieh Long Neck Ceramic Table Lamp
target.com

Threshold Fillable Ambient Lighting Collection
target.com

Threshold Turned Table Lamp
target.com

AWD Friday Faves

AWD Friday Faves Jan 23 by allywhalendesign 

Turquoise bedding
anthropologie.com

J Crew down vest
jcrew.com

Grey bag
laylagrayce.com

Fresh and Light in Entertaining Cookbooks at Terrain
shopterrain.com

Cozy Kitchen Banquettes

There is just something about the kitchen that calls people to gather around, to enjoy the aromas of cooking, to chat about the days events or to simply just be in one place...together. One common trait among many kitchens is there is never enough seating or if there is it just lacks the comfort that beckons you to sit and stay a spell. If space allows, banquette seating is a fabulous choice that allows for a cozy living space from within the kitchen, a space that can easily be set for Sunday brunch or afternoon homework assignments.

Recently, I had the pleasure of designing a space where a banquette was not only a great addition, it was a necessity. After viewing the kitchen-sunroom "bowling alley" as we called it, I felt a custom banquette was perfect to divide the space. It's important to realize a banquette doesn't always have to be in the corner of a room as it often times is the best answer to grounding a vastly open living/kitchen area. You can see below how it really does warm up a space as well.

On stands now! Refresh Magazine Spring 2015

Refresh Magazine Spring 2015. Photo:Brie Williams

Refresh Magazine Spring 2015. Photo: Brie Williams

Here are a few other banquettes we are loving right now.

Homedit

Howtodecorate.com

Above is a great way to show how an unexpected color can really make your space pop.

HomeBunch

Traditional Home

Camille Styles

Megan Brooke Handmade

So what do you think? Is banquette seating on your list of must-haves?

My Friday Favorites

Houzz

So much to love about this picture from the beautiful door, the gorgeous tall windows, and the striking roofline.

Photo: Amanda Sharp photography via Strawberryswingandthings.com 

I love how Erinn of Strawberry Swing and Things blog gave her daughter Kenley's closet a total facelift. The best part about this makeover? The IKEA Expedit shelf anchored in the middle along with the fun gold dots brings a bit of style and whimsy into this closet.

Old House Online via My Design Chic

When you put time, effort, and money into finding the perfect front door the last thing you want to do is have the typical screen door. This Chinese Chippendale design adds so much interest that you wouldn't mind letting a summer breeze in every day.

Home Bunch

This inviting coastal cottage featured on Home Bunch has such a wonderful color scheme that it just draws you into this space. This is a great example of how the right use of patterns can create interest while still maintaining a neutral color palette.

Four Affordable Headboard Ideas: Create Your Own Story!

There is something about designing beautiful bedrooms that truly makes me swoon. A bedroom is where your yoga pants are the wardrobe staple and your aesthetic can be as girly or masculine as you wish. Often times it's just that perfect combination of wall color, symmetry, art, and bedding that combine to create a soothing oasis that is just "you." 

However, all these elements won't synchronize unless you have a bed that beckons you to stare just a bit longer than usual. When decorating a bedroom one of the first things to think about is how will you make the bed a focal point? Of course, you can always spend a fortune on an expensive tufted headboard (I'm a sucker for tufts of any kind too) or you can look for affordable ways to make a dramatic statement sans a traditional headboard. 

Apartment Therapy

Here is a fabulous example for blending colors as well as demonstrating symmetry with the lamps. 

I love how this bedroom breathes drama with just a hint of moodiness. The floor to ceiling drapes create a great border for the main highlight, the framed pictures above the bed. Notice how the frames are different sizes as well as colors, creating contrast and interest. The best thing about this room? Everything is from IKEA!

Source unknown found via HomeTalk

Another great example of using drapery in an unconventional way in the bedroom. The use of a older, distressed shutter is a great way to add rustic charm to this room while the white sheers help to soften the look.

Liz Marie Blog

Old window panes are one of the objects to be repurposed around the house. Why not when they can be this interesting? This was a great take on how to create a "headboard" without actually needing to purchase one. I also love that Liz used this look in her guest bedroom. It's perfect as it's not too feminine or masculine and creates a comfortable environment for every visitor.

MILIEU Magazine Spring 2014

This is one of my favorite ideas for an unconventional focal point for your bed. This reclaimed iron gate adds charm and interest to this otherwise conservative bed. 

I love that these bedrooms all have one thing in common: character. It's important to remember that whenever choosing a headboard you find something that speaks to you. There is nothing better than walking into a room with a bed that tells a story without saying a word.