jessysblindstyle.com

While we were visiting my boyfriend's parents over the holiday weekend, I noticed for the millionth time how depressing and dark their house is.  Even the main living areas have room darkening shades that prevent any light from getting in during the day.  Those are the kind of blinds that are terrific for bedrooms, but they're terrible for making an already dark house very pleasant.

I think I'm going to get them a set of Leann Sheers next Christmas.  They're so nice and light, and they would allow the sun to finally penetrate that depressing house.  I know they're working on painting and fixing up the place, so they should appreciate a new set of sheer window treatments.  I know it'll make me happy not to sit in the dark every time we visit!     

Jessy @ 11:30 | comments(0) | Permanent link

While discussing our basement remodeling project, my partner and I decided to go with a beach theme.  We were planning to go all out, with waves painted on the walls, clouds on the ceiling, and surf board coffee tables.  We even created a sunken space on one wall for a large saltwater aquarium.  The small windows down there were our biggest challenge, until I discovered these tropical wood blinds.

They fit in so perfectly with the rest of the theme!  We chose the Caribbean Woods line of tropical shades since they matched up so well with our wood moldings, and they've really put the finishing touches on our rec room. 

I really like these wood blinds as well; I would have had a difficult time deciding if I had seen them before I placed my order!

Basement pics coming soon . . . my kids have momentarily taken over the room with their toys and the beachy decorations are somewhat hidden!

Jessy @ 07:18 | comments(0) | Permanent link

You may not have realized it yet, but in addition to being a home decorating buff, I'm also a bit of an environmentalist.  I do what I can, where I can -- for instance, my baby wears cloth diapers and my house is "going solar" this summer in an effort to being more earth-friendly.  It's not always easy to make environmentally conscious choices, but it is easy to cut down on your energy use when you decorate with insulating window treatments!

Cellular shades are both attractive and practical.  They are terrific for insulating your home from the elements, keeping the heat in during the winter months and trapping the cool air in the summer.  Not only will your home be more comfortable, it'll be more efficient, too!  Double-celled blinds will help reduce your heating and cooling costs, while helping mother nature out at the same time.  You'll even get a better night's sleep, since these room-darkening shades block out the early morning sunlight quite effectively.  Everyone wins when you decorate with cellular blinds!

Jessy @ 07:32 | comments(0) | Permanent link

I discovered these unique sliding panel blinds yesterday when I was searching for a way to fix up our dilapidated sunroom.  You can order either fabric panels that are excellent for letting some light filter in, or choose natural wood blinds for a more rustic (and darkened) effect.  Truthfully, they look like something you'd find at a classy beach house or resort hotel.  I think my particular sunroom may be a bit on the small side to handle something so dramatic, but I'm sending the link to my mom.  She has a long row of windows looking out over her back yard, and the sliding panels made of fabric would look so amazing there, especially if she picked out a bold color to compliment her neutral-toned decor.   

jess @ 07:42 | comments(0) | Permanent link

Just before my son was born in February, we finished our basement so that the kids would have a place to play and I would have room for my desk, freeing up our upstairs office for the baby's crib and changing table.  We left the ceiling open, since it was no more than six feet high, and we painted the rafters to coordinated with the walls.  The whole thing turned out great.

Then (insert scary music here) we received notice that our township's tax assessors would be evaluating our property and raising taxes accordingly.  We expected the finished basement to cost us -- and big time.  Finally, our turn for an assessment came, and the surprisingly cordial gentleman showed up to review our home.  He inspected the upstairs and then headed down the alternating tread stairway to the rec room.  "Oh," he said, "This won't affect your assessment.  The ceiling isn't finished."  Whew.

When a different man inspected my mother's house a month later, he told her that most people who finish their basements leave the ceiling open so that they won't be assessed for the extra living space.  Who knew?  I like our navy blue rafters even better now than I did when we first painted them -- what a great example of decorating on a budget!

Jessy @ 10:53 | comments(0) | Permanent link

About a week ago, I decided to get the carpet cleaned in my bedroom and back hall (the unfortunate home of the cat's litter box).  As my boyfriend and I were moving all the furniture out of the room, I commented on what a good time it would be to paint.  Of course, once I saw how cramped the house was with our king sized bed and three dressers relocated to various other rooms, I wanted to shoot myself for opening my mouth.  Instead, I bought two gallons of honeydew-green paint and resigned myself to living in a war zone for a week or so. 

Sunday, my wonderfully patient mother came over and helped me paint -- and I'm so glad I did!  My bedroom finally resembles a real living space. Now I'm on the hunt for a new bedspread (you try finding something in honeydew green!) and new blinds for the windows.  Ours are black and covered in waterspots from last year's spring cleaning.  I'm thinking of trying these ocean-blue cellular shades.  Here's a snippet of how the room is turning out so far.  Don't you think some pretty new window treatments (and that elusive new comforter) would make a world of difference?

Jessy @ 07:34 | comments(0) | Permanent link

Doesn't it just kill you when you take a liking to something and all of a sudden, it's all the rage?  That happened to me first with pigs . . . I started collecting little piggy trinkets for my room when I was still in middle school, enjoying the challenge of finding cute and unique items, and within months, the shops were full of piggy this and piggy that.  My moose obsession was similar, and now the latest one of my previously personal favorites has been defiled by the masses:  the garden gnome. 

Unfortunately, I still love all those things despite their instant poularity.  One of my recent outdoor decor projects has been a habitat for the gnomes I'm collecting.  I visit Garden Gnomes Need Homes almost daily, hoping that one day I'll no longer find the idea of a hundred-dollar lawn ornament completely ridiculous.  I even have a vague hope that my children will give me the gnome bench my friend discovered in a gardening catalogue for Mother's Day.  Silly?  Absolutely. 

But I refuse to let the sudden trend spoil my fun!

Jessy @ 08:16 | comments(0) | Permanent link