Blue & White Is Always Just Right

As you may know, we changed our family room decor and it is now a blue and white paradise.

The colors that you use in your decorating can create different moods or feelings. Blue is known to be a calming color and the freshness of a blue and white color pallet is so appealing.

It was definitely a big change from our last color scheme featuring red and yellow toile, but we love the look. Check out a previous post that shows more pictures of our transformation and a look at our previous decor here.

Invest In Good Quality Furniture

Even though we are always on the lookout for good prices we are believers in getting good quality furniture and adding in “luxe for less” decor that will create the “look” that you desire.

Fortunately, we have Pottery Barn’s white slipcovered couches that go with everything. We changed the area rug, added pillows, and then went on a mission to find lots of ginger jars and other accessories. The lamps that we already had in place just needed new lampshades to bring them into the mix.

Our kitchen and family room are very “open concept”. Basically they are one room. What this required was to pull the two spaces together and incorporate the breakfast room. Our cabinets are linen white and we have quartzite countertops, so this was so easy to bring in the blue accents.

We use ginger jars for utensil holders, added some blue and white bowls and accents, and even transformed a beautiful vase into an olive oil vessel. Everything just works together in harmony.

“Luxe” for Less

• The new blue and white striped rug is an indoor/outdoor from Target for around $100 (don’t forget to check the indoor/outdoor selections as they are not only durable but there are some beautiful ones to choose from)
• All of the ginger jars are from Homegoods. You  know there are great prices there and most were under $20 each
• Ralph Lauren plaid pillows and others on the couches were also found at Homegoods
• The rooster lamp on the skirted table is an antique that we found many years ago in Chicago at a thrift shop
• The table is skirted with a pinstriped comforter and just draped over a round table base
• We made the drapes and recovered the valances which saved tons of money. The hubs is very talented with a staple gun and I made the drapes for the large family room window
• A “Frenchie” chair was reupholstered by us with another pinstriped comforter
• We added a few blue and white tassels to the large French armoire/TV cabinet and the french doors leading out to the patio from TJ Maxx
• The Paris trunk that we purchased at Ann’s Florist (our favorite flower shop on Las Olas)  has been redecorated with some books, a small olive tree from Ballard Designs Outlet, and a decorative plate. Ann’s even has a coffee bar now and a vending machine that dispenses small bottles of champagne — how wonderful is that?
• An iron plant stand that we purchased at Detroit Garden Works is now full of blue and white ginger jars, books, and other bric-a-brack. If you have not visited DGW you are missing out on an incredible gardener’s paradise
• The blue and white buffalo plaid ottoman we reupholstered ourselves with Stitch Witchery from JoAnn Fabrics. Even if you do not know how to sew you can just place the material on the item and iron the fabric in place with Stitch Witchery. It turned out so nice and friends always comment on how “custom” it looks
• Another ottoman by the Frenchy chair was painted a dark navy blue and the cushion is now reupholstered too

Our next project is to paint a sofa table to put behind the large couch. Right now there is a wicker field bar there and it is a bit too small for the area. We will post pictures of the before and after of this project when we get to it.

As you can see, we definitely love a luxe look but believe that you do not need to break the bank getting this. It’s all about finding items that you love and arranging them in attractive vignettes throughout your space.

So Many Great Resources For Innovative Decor

Luxe for less is our goal whenever we redo a space. Why not give it a try by looking at Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, Williams Sonoma, Anthropologie, Better Homes & Gardens, Magnolia Journal Magazine, Elle Decor, or Traditional Home for inspiration. Another great source is Pinterest if you are searching for a specific “look”. You do not need to be an interior designer to make your space special for you and your family to enjoy.