Boxwood Clippings

I have been dying to get some things up on the walls around here and saw these cute salad plates at Crate + Barrel that caught my fancy. I decided to try making them for our family room wall.

I bought a few different sized plates from the thrift store, sat down in front of the tv and got to work. I outlined my designs in pencil and then went over my design with a black sharpie.

This was super quick and easy and if I didn’t like the way it turned out I cleaned the plate with all-purpose cleaner and paper towel and started over.

I read on Pinterest you can bake the design at 350 for 30 mins, but I decided to skip this step so I can wipe off, and change the designs without buying new plates.

I used my handy-dandy command strips to attach the plates to the wall, so I can change the arrangement around without marking up the wall.

Fast, inexpensive and easy, it’s amazing what you can get done while watching tv! I think this would be a great project to do with kids this summer. Have you given sharpie plates a try get?

Today I am excited to show you our new kitchen! We’ve tackled a few projects in our first month so thought it was time to share. I mostly love our kitchen because it sits bang in the middle of the house, I’m so excited to make it extra special and be the gathering place in our home.

Our first project were the pendant lights. I searched the internet and local stores high and low for pendants at a reasonable price. I eventually found Hinkley Lighting and these lovely pendants. Unfortunately, the brass has been discontinued, but I found them on Ebay for $75 each! They are great quality and we are really happy with them. Thanks Brad and Scott for hanging them for me.

The next project was hardware. Most people think I’m crazy for loving brass, but I figure hardware is something you can easily change if you tire, but I have a feeling I won’t! We found these Martha Stewart drawer and cabinet pulls that were really inexpensive. I love the shiny metal against the dark cabinets.

A close up of my favorite thing in the kitchen, my copper Kitchenaid,

 The kitchen has come a long way from this, but I am secretly pinning a few more ideas…I would love to add a major dose of glossy subway tile like this someday:

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What kitchen trends are you liking lately?

I stumbled upon this image a few days ago on Pinterest:

Hello lights!!! After paying hundreds of dollars on commercial-looking pot lights for our kitchen, these pretty flush lights look so much more appealing to me.

I was at my new favorite store, Home Depot and saw this similar looking flushmount in the lighting aisle for only $9.98. Wowsers!

Hampton Bay Antique Brass Flushmount

The finish in person is way more bronze-y like the top image. Singly I’m not so sure, but repeated I’m thinking this could be a great upgrade lined along a hallway. What do you think of them?

Good morning everyone! Hope you are all having a great week. Today I’m happy to share the something I am SO excited about…our dining room! After years of dreaming it’s so great when things are actually happening! I couldn’t wait for the room to be complete, so here’s a sneak peek at our recent purchases:

Williams-Sonoma Harvest Table purchased at DownEast for $799.

I know this is a lot for a dining table, but with both leaves in it’s a ginormous 114″ long where all of our family can gather. It is super sturdy and with the distressed finish I’m hoping scratches and dings will only add to it’s character?!

Tall Windsor Chairs from Oak Express $76 each.

These chairs are regularly priced $96 each, but the black is being discontinued so they were only $76 each. I also bargained for two for chairs for $30 each due to slight damage, it never hurts to ask! You know how long I’ve been dreaming of windsor chairs, I’m hopeful that my taste will remain as timeless as these chairs.

Basic Chandelier from Lowe’s $80.

$80?! Yes, I will take it! I’m enjoying the chandelier without shades for the summer, but can’t wait to cozy it up with little shades in the fall.

This is how it’s looking so far…

I posted this image a while ago which oozes country-classic comfort and the look I love.

Our walls are empty and bare, but hopefully we’ll get to country-classic cozy eventually :)

We just got word that we made it to House Beautiful’s Top 5 Blog Posts of the Week!!!

Today we are sitting in this Inexpensive Neutral Living Room celebrating and having a major Boxwood scheduling session.

Thanks for the mention House Beautiful!

We are so happy to be back after a little blogging break! We spent most of our break arranging, organizing and enjoying the new house. Here is a peek at the living room.

This is the first room as you enter the house so I wanted it a little more formal and chic. We found the key to this was symmetry and minimal accessorizing.  My favorite thing about the room is how inexpensive it was to pull together. Here is a run-down of the main costs:

West Elm Couches: DownEast Home annual tent sale $125 each.

Shelving Unit: once again, the Ikea Expedit $139.00

Curtains: Ikea Ritva $24.99 for a pair in-store ($34.99 online). We can’t get over how great these are for the price!

Sunburst Mirror: Target clearance last year (from this collection)

Lamps: clearance at Target last year (from this collection)

Coffee Table: thrift store $10

Accent Chairs: thrift store $8

Pretty crazy right? Clearance shopping, thrifting and Ikea… love them all!

Thank you to all of our family and friends for helping us move in/hang curtains/clean etc and helping us settle in, we are so blessed to have your help.

I am loving the new house and feel so lucky to have a dishwasher and laundry room, I feel as happy as Cinderella.

Lots more on the house to come…

Today we’d like to share a few tips on designing a playroom. By following just a few rules you can ensure a space that both you and your child will love…

COLOR

When we design a playroom the process starts quite similar to any other room: Surprise! A neutral foundation. However, unlike most of our designs there is no denying that children love color, so we always add a healthy dose in accessories. Light and bright rooms encourage play time, so we also make sure to take advantage of the natural light available, as well as adding lots of lighting fixtures.

Neutral room + bright bunting and rug

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GREAT STORAGE

Storage is incredibly important in a playroom. Every item should have a home to eliminate clutter and create a happy environment. Closet organizers to utilize existing storage or adding additional storage, with bookshelves, storage totes and baskets are a must. Our beloved, Expedit is usually our number choice and is a very affordable option.

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OPEN SPACE

The most important function of a playroom is to have open space, and this is often the first problem we notice when we start a project. It is so important to have open space where kids can pull out and run around in. With adequate storage only large items should be left on the floor to maximize every inch of open space. We usually add soft rugs and floor pillows to create a soft, inviting environment and also encourage a toy rotation schedule so the space is not cluttered and the child doesn’t tire of the same toy every day.

Open space + rug + poufs

We hope you find these tips helpful! Please email us at mail [at] boxwoodclippings [dot] com if you need help designing and/or organizing a play space for your family.

I have been scouring all the shops lately trying to find things for the new house. I found the sweetest towels at Pottery Barn that I just couldn’t resist.

$4.99 for set of two (free shipping, $7 monogramming)

My towels arrived within just a few days and I am thrilled with them. I love the fringed edge, linen texture and most of all, monogram! I had ‘sanders’ monogrammed, which will be perfect to layer over hand towels in the bathrooms.

I also think they would make the cutest gifts at around $6 each. Don’t you think they’d make a perfect hostess present?

I’ve been craving a little makeover in my living room for quite a while. A few weeks ago I totally rearranged the furniture and made it feel like a completely new space, but it just didn’t sit right so I changed it back. I decided a little tune up was all the room needed.

I started with the bookshelf. I kept a neutral color scheme of white, black, silver and brown. Made clean lines with books, and used trusty cake stands in abundance for height.

This nest is a Easter decoration, but I decided to glue it to an empty frame for a more permanent look.

I backed some of my books in leftover wrapping from Christmas. Love silver and white together!

All my dark and colored pillows went away, and I gathered all my whites. My sister in law Kimberly make me some covers out of some neutral napkins. The textures really pop against eachother.

Then I just needed some life. A mum plant from my grocery store was only $3 and has already given me weeks of full bloom.

My neutral room is bright and airy. No need for color here!

Mixing things up can breath new life into a room, and you don’t need to shop for anything you don’t already have. Pull from other rooms, and go shopping in your storage space. Even using other seasons decorations the right way can do just the trick!

I am beyond in love right now with painted brick. You know how some people wouldn’t dream of painting oak cabinets? Some people also think the same about brick, that covering it would be a total sin. For any of those skeptics out there I’m here to convince you otherwise :)

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Aren’t these spaces amazing?! I’m dying to get myself a brick makeover! I’ve been reading up on painting brick and have fallen in love with Annie Sloan paint. Have you heard about it? a) Annie is a fellow Brit and overall fabulous b) it looks like miracle paint and c) no voc’s = no cancer. Watch this video to be converted.

Happy Monday, hope you all have a happy week!

Spring has definitely arrived! Here in Salt Lake City we even made it into the 70′s this past week! The air smells and feels different and makes me giddy at its freshness… it has been one loooongg winter! Here are a few things to make the most of this perfect time of year in your living spaces.

LIGHTEN UP

It’s time to fold up the blankets, roll up the shaggy rugs, and store away the fur pillows, heavy duvets, hats and scarves. This process of ‘putting away winter’ will make you feel refreshed and make your home feel open, spacious and uncluttered.

We use our favorite totes and store away winter items in the basement or garage leaving drawers and closets open and airy.

UNDER-ACCESORIZE

Spring is the time to worship mother nature and invite her into your home. Sole blossoms and blooms make a dreary room alive, house plants have the same effect.

Undo the layers of winter and really lighten up the mantle and walls by removing cluttered frames and candles.

ADD AROMA

Scent is a powerful tool for the environment in your home. The last thing you want is for your new spring space to smell like steamed broccoli. I am in love with Mrs Meyer’s new radish scent cleaning products.

The scent smells like fresh wet grass and will make your house smell perfect while you are spring cleaning or washing the dishes.

These three things will hopefully bring a little spring in your step to enjoy your home this season. Do you have any rituals or routines around your home this time of year?

Some of my favorite spaces are ones with a simple idea repeated:

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I find it amazing how one frame can look fantastic repeated. It creates visual impact and brings balance to a room. Do you agree? What are your favorite repeats lately? We can’t get enough baskets….we’re utterly obsessed.

On a recent trip to Costco, I spied these adorable pillows. A set of two is only $16.79!

Not only are they a great price, but they felt really nice too!

They also come in green, yellow and a super cute navy blue (unfortunately the last navy was snatched up before I could take a pic.)

Perfect to add a burst of colour for Spring, or–like me–stick to the fabulous neutral. :)

We love Nancy Myers and all of her films. It’s Complicated is no exception, and what I love most of all about this movie is the beautiful set designs in picturesque Santa Barbara, California.

My two favorite sets are her cozy chef kitchen and ‘the bakery’:

Beautiful marble, industrial appliances, warm wood tones and the thought of yummy hot bread and chocolate croissants, what’s not to love?!

Here are a few products I am craving to bring a little of the movie into my every day:

 A French kitchen island

Some lovely marble cake stands and domes

A cafe-worthy appliance, like this Breville Frother

And lastly, some pretty spring blossoms.

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Hopefully the sunshine and the blossoms will be here soon so I don’t have to dream about sunny California anymore! Do you have a movie you would love to escape to?

We got the news last week that our brother, Dan and sis-in-law, Kimberly will be expecting their 1st girl after four boys! I’m pretty much sure we have the best idea ever for the nursery!

The current nursery is a blend of yellows and blues. As there is obviously a lot of blue in all of the baby things, we think just a bright pop of feminine coral is all that is needed to welcome the new little girl.

Here are a few examples of the color pairing:

Framed lullabies…how cute is that? The best thing about this color combo is you can’t go wrong. Any shade of coral + any shade of blue looks fabulous.

Luckily, I’ve already spied an incredible chair and a punchy lamp that will transform the space :)

Have I convinced you yet, Kimbers?

A few rays of sunshine this weekend was enough to get me excited for spring, and in the mood to simplify things around here…

These designs are simple, deliberate and stunning. Here are 3 steps to create a similar look:

#1 Clean Slate: Remove everything you don’t love or need from the room. Organize and store accessories you’ve removed so you can change them out seasonally.

#2 Add staple furniture. Now is the perfect time to re-arrange the furniture. Don’t stop rearranging until it’s both functional and pleasing to you.

#3 Add minimal accessories. Lots of times over-accessorizing can overwhelm and destroy a room. Remember: Less is more! Minimal accessories in earthy, wood tones add zen and warmth to a space. Baskets to store small items, as well as sisal rugs are great for this look, and don’t forget to add a living plant or fresh flowers for the finishing touch.

Breath and enjoy your simplified space all ready for spring!

Threshold ombre throw pillow $14.99

Red stipe pillow $19.99

Essie really red nail polish $7.79

Red ikat pouf $39.99

Huffy men’s cruiser $119.99

A favorite red notebook $2.99

Today we are hitting up Target with our sister, Helen who flew in town for a long weekend.  You can always rely on Target to hit the bulls-eye with Target-red Valentine’s loot! What are you loving at Target right now?

I have tried to be a red person, over and over. Truth? It clashes with my caramel highlights something dreadful. Sarah, with her strawberry-blonde hair also refuses to wear anything pink or red.

Our sister, Helen on the other hand is constantly rocking the red. It compliments her dark brunette hair and porcelain skin perfectly, as well as perfectly accenting her black and white colonial home. She often leaves Sarah and I feeling we lack a little luster…

With the drab, smoggy inversion of Salt Lake City nothing seems more appealing today than a punch of red. Perfect timing for February and Valentines if I do say so…

Passionate, bright, sultry and cheery. Welcome to the month of love…

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I love these bold rooms, how about that cherry red paint?

I have my eye on my favorite anthro latte bowls in the same color:

I would eat out of these babies all February long. Does anything change around your home for Valentine’s Day?

Congrats to Rachel and Sally Roehm, you are the lucky winners of the Winnie Press Valentine’s Day! Please email us your address and we will mail your card asap-y! (mail [at] boxwoodclippings [dot] com)

We LOVE white bedding, but to some of our clients and friends it’s a little too plain for their tastes. That’s why duvet sets like these are great since they add a sense of drama and luxury with the pintuck texture.

We’ve been admiring West Elm pintuck duvet (found HERE) for a while now, but can’t resist Target’s version (see HERE) for about half the price. With savings like that, go ahead and spurge on a couple of cushions too!

Our client, Lisa approached us needing help with her master bedroom. She has just moved in to a beautiful brand new home and having a hard time visualizing her master bedroom around her existing furniture.

As she is finishing and furnishing the whole house right now we need to help her create a great space with minimal costs. We’ll accomplish this by three huge bang-for-your-buck changes:

1. Paint: Hands down paint is the least-expensive option to update a room. We’ve chosen a warm gray to modernize the space that will compliment the creamy furniture and create a warm and inviting environment.

2. Linens: The bed is the main feature of a master bedroom and we’ll be adding a few layers of linens to scream comfort.

3. Large Modern Lamps: With the chunky furniture already present in the room modern accents are a must to add a hint of sophistication and glamor to this master suite. Large lamps are definitely needed to flank the master bed and ground the large furniture in the space.

We will be shopping the sales to make sure this room turns out fabulous with just three changes and a minimal budget, we’ll keep you posted on the result!

Please let us know if you would like help with a design dilemma or consultation. We can work with any budget. Please email us at mail [at] boxwoodclippings [dot] com.