Willow House website

I now have a Willow House website where you can place orders directly. There is no minimum purchase, and you can take advantage of the special when you spend $40, you can get a 2ND item under $40 for half off. They also have an outlet with fantastic prices, and weekly deals.

http://robinsnest.willowhouse.com/

Top BEST Christmas Presents (for Kids)

1. Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair
2. Leapfrog Leapster
3. American Girl Bitty Baby
4. Lee Middleton Newborn Nursery Baby
5. Kidkraft Kitchen
6. Little Tykes Toolbench
7. Kidkraft table and chairs
8. Tinker Toys
9. Fisher Price Musical Tea Set
10. Bass Pro Shop gun with scope
11. Bass Pro Shop cross bow
12. plastic table trays
13. Melissa and Doug Easel
14. Fisher Price doll house
15. Buzz Lightyear Rocket tent
16. Umbrella Doll stroller
17. Little Tykes coupe car

House For Sale

Willow House Order

I am closing my Willow House Party tomorrow (Tues, Aug. 31), so if you want to order anything, please let me know! Thanks!

www.willowhouse.com

Design Tip #4 - Total Home Make-Over

This post is dedicated to my dear friend Amanda, who has been asking me to help her "redo" her house. Like many of you, she is living in a house that is older than 10 years old. And she is overwhelmed. And she doesn't know where to begin. So here we go...

We will start at the top and work our way down. Now, understand, there is no right way to do this. This is just my way. Take what works for you.

Let's start buy hiring someone to come in and paint your ceilings, trim work (and cabinetry, if needed). When they do that, they will have to take down all your lighting, door knobs, cabinet pulls, light switches, etc. When they put them back, they can install all NEW. Now a very important word about the finishes of said lighting, doorknobs, etc. THEY ALL NEED TO BE THE SAME FINISH!!! Let me say that again, they all need to be the same finish. Pick the one you like the best and go with it. Knowing it is trendy, and you will probably have to start over every 10 years. No matter what you decided, keep the finish the same. This makes for a much more designer look. It makes the entire house flow together, look like some thought was put into designing your house, and just an overall designer finish.

Now you are ready to paint. This is my favorite part!!! This transforms a home faster than anything. I would recommend hiring someone to pick your paint colors, and or least get someone to help you. It is that important!!! Now a word about designers. I am a certified interior designer. That means I have a college degree, have worked in the design industry for a minimum of 2 years, and taken and passed the NCIDQ (which is a 2 day, 3 part licensing test). Obviously, I will recommend you hire and NCIDQ designer; however, many non-professionals can do a FANTASTIC job of picking paint colors (keep in mind, many cannot).

This is how I recommend picking paint colors. Begin by finding a source of inspiration. My favorite is fabric, but it can be anything, a painting, piece of furniture, etc. It needs to be a piece with multiple colors, that you ADORE. When you look at it, you smile. Mine is a chair. Mrs. Brenda's was a pillow. From that source of inspiration you will pick your colors. This will be your color palette. You will need to pick a red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, neutral. And from that point, you can paint any room any of those colors, and you know they will all flow together, and work together to make a designer house. One of my design services I will be providing is selecting your paint colors. I will charge $100 to do this.

And finally the flooring. Put carpet in the bedrooms only. Ceramic tile in the laundry, kitchen, bathrooms, and wood in the rest of the house. If your budget is less that that, I would again put carpet in the bedrooms, and the wood vinyl planks throughout the rest of the house. If your budget is higher that wood and ceramic, your probably aren't reading a free design blog for design advice!

So, there you have it. Design Tip #4 will be furniture placement, and Design Tip #5 will be picture hanging.

OPEN HOUSE HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

Farewell to Southern Living at Home

On Monday, July 26, Southern Living at Home will go away forever; however, August 1, a brand new company, Willow House, will launch! It is a unique, forward thinking company that has MANY changes coming through over the next year. I describe Willow House as a cross between Southern Living and Pottery Barn (2 of my favorites)!



So, what is the buzz about Willow House? It is a new type of business that has never existed before. It is a 4th generation business model. Social media company with direct selling, e-boutique online selling, and still a party planned company. There will be 8 different streams of income for design consultants. Entrepreneurs will love this. For me, as a designer, it gives me a resource when people want me to help them with their houses. The most compelling reason to get involved, is you will own your own business. For people interested in design, Willow House is also offering training in design for their consultants. If you are interested, let me know...you can begin in August for $99.

I will be placing my last order for the July sale on Sunday, July 25. If you want anything, please let me know today (Saturday). Must haves for the July sale...







Estate Canister $11.96 (Reg. $34.96)
I plan on keeping M&M's in mine! Also a great gift!













Jackson Square Candlesticks $16.96 (Reg. price $49.96)
GREAT price (set of 2)









Olive Jar Red $12.48 (Reg. price $24.96)
great accent for bookcases









Bountiful Iron stand $9.96 - Reg. price ($21.96)
great to display a bowl on a bookcase or mantle










I promise, I am working on Design Tip #3...Total home makeover (dedicated to my sweet friend, Amanda)