If you are looking for free art printables I recommend the following resources:

Remodelaholic’s Art Print Collection

New York Public Library Images

11 Prints from Organic Authority

17 Printables from Brit + Co

A Painted Hive’s Collection of Printable Resources

*contains affiliate links*

The post Free Printables appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

Despite the stress and inconvenience of this whole renovation, I have thoroughly enjoyed one aspect… picking all the new things!!!  I mean whose favorite part isn’t shopping??

Finding all new fixtures for a bathroom refresh is fun but can also be painful on the wallet. So, in order to indulge myself in the more fanciful side of this trying time, I’ve assembled these affordable bathroom fixtures for different looks. Sometimes all you need for a totally new bathroom is refreshed fixtures!

Industrial Chic

Shower/Tub | Vanity Light | Faucet

Oil rubbed bronze is so hot right now.  Not only does it lend an industrial vibe to your bath, it’s virtually stainless. I personally love the more modern sleek bronze fixtures, like these.  They have the clean lines that contrast them with the ornate traditional bronze fixtures tending towards French Country that were previously popular.

Elegant Sophistication

Shower/Tub | Vanity Light | Faucet

Can’t you feel the sophistication? This collection features shiny chromes and polished nickels all lending towards that, is-this-the-Hilton feel.  It definitely has a contemporary leaning, but the regal light fixture pulls in a hint of traditional making the whole look a little more transitional.

Effortlessly Modern

Shower / Faucet | Vanity Light | Faucet

You’ve got to love a nice brushed nickel finish.  I mean it’s totally family friendly with it brushed metal that repels water spots and stains.  I especially adore that light fixture, how urbane and chic!

Which style is your favorite?  The ‘Elegant Sophistication’ grouping is what we chose for our bathroom.. I’m a sucker for shiny chrome and polished nickel

*Some of these links may be affiliate links*

The post Affordable Bath Fixtures appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

Although I haven’t personally tried any of these, they are all on my art bucket list.  So maybe one day I will have tutorials.  But for now, I will share my inspiration.  If any of you brave souls try some of these ideas I’d love to know!

The Over-Sized Animal Head Print

via

Taxidermy is all the rage these days.  Change it up and with some framed animal head art. There is an abundance of free vintage animal prints, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a quality sketch of your favorite animal.  Kristine from the Painted Hive offers tips on how to increase the size of your image for print.

Then just take it to Staples and ask for an engineer print (they are super cheap), and frame.  Voila! Over-sized animal head art.

Paint Over Thrift Store Art

via

Spice up that boring old oil painting with some color blocking and neon!  The sky is the limit with this one, I mean seriously google this because there are some crazy awesome things people have done.

I personally would stick with the bright neons on a flower painting to start with.  What a totally awesome, completely funk piece of art that marries old with new.

Brushed Silhouette Art

via

I just love this painting and I think it’s definitely DIY-able.  Cut a silhouette out of a piece of paper and use temporary adhesive to stick it on your canvas. Then take a large brush and use zig-zag/wavy strokes to paint down your canvas.

Peel off the paper and zoila! Instant designer-worthy art.  You could even use different paint methods like splatter or color blocking.  I really need to try this one…

‘Dipped’ Art

via

Another awesome way to bring new life to those thrift store pieces.  Use different colors or all the same.  I personally love the mystique of the paint ending just below the eyes.

You could play around with this idea and do other geometric shapes over the old art for a fun and modern gallery!

Pixel Painting

via

Recreate a favorite picture with watercolors.  You can find a full tutorial at Wit & Whistle. This is basically as easy as those paint-by-number pieces we did as kids.

Make it sentimental by using a photo from your favorite vacation or first home.  The sky is the limit here. I’d even like to see someone try it with even smaller pixels so the original image is more recognizable.  Or, instead of watercolor, use paint chips!

Stone Mosaics

via

Wishing for a bit more marble in your life, but not up for a tile job?  Create a wall mosaic out of your favorite stones.  You get the look of luxury for a lot less money and upkeep than if you got new countertops.

My local Habitat for Humanity Restore stocks tons and tons of tiles. Find the ones that really speak to you, then invest in a tile cutter and arrange away!

Blob Paintings

via

Ok, so I guess they are called abstract.  But if this painting is thousands of dollars and ultimately couture, why not make a blob painting of your own.

It can’t be that hard, right?  Antique the paper a little bit, then paint away. Heck, have your five-year-old do it for you.  Then tell all your friends you bought it at an art gallery in France.  I bet they won’t even bat an eye.

Inverted Color Blocking

via

This one couldn’t be simpler.  Just pick your favorite colors and frame with a white backdrop, and frame a matching white paper with the colored backdrop.

It’s fun take on color blocking, looks chic, and can easier be made to fit your color scheme.  Think of the variations you could try!

I’m hoping some of these projects are in my near future. Have you ever tried to DIY a designer piece? I’ve tried once, it was fun and I’m itching to surf West Elm for more inspo.

The post 8 Off-the-Wall Wall Art Projects appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

You can do so many neat, ‘look for less’ projects with things from IKEA.  Lately, I’ve been on the hunt for a floor lamp for our den.  With no overhead lighting, it gets pretty dark in there during the evenings.  Floor lamps can be tricky for some reason, and I don’t feel like there is a predominant trend right now to guide you on what is and isn’t cool about them.

On a recent trip to IKEA I spotted the ASTORP lamp, and I knew it was meant to be.  At only $25 for the base, it was definitely priced right.  The style kind of mimicks the popular ‘tripod’ floor lamp and its clean geometric lines really appealed to me.  So I snatched it up!  I have plans to hide the cord a bit and spray paint the legs gold (don’t you think that will give it that extra special touch?)

(image via Stylebook Closet App)

After finding such a great deal, of course I had to look around and see how it compared.  I found these lamps that are very similar to the ASTORP IKEA floor lamp, but cost considerably more… So I would say this is a very successful ‘look for less’ purchase!

 1  //  2  //  3  //  4

What are your favorite IKEA products?  Do you ever struggle when picking out floor lamps?

The post IKEA Astorp Floor Lamp appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

My mom and I went to the Schaumburg location to check out the changes in person.  IKEA kept many features of the new kitchen line the same as their former one, but made several crucial tweaks.

Let’s go through some of the most exciting changes.  First, the new SEKTION kitchen is very modular and allows more size combination options.  This means, less IKEA hacks, and more options for customized dimensions.

Not only will the drawers and cabinets dimensions be customizable, their insides will as well.  Meaning more options for drawers inside of drawers.  Yes, you heard that right!  They have also expanded their in-cabinet storage features for optimal space usage.

On the door front (pun intended), most faces remain the same with new names, but several more are added.  I would have liked to seen a few more options in the ‘classic-traditional’ style, but I guess they already have some pretty great picks.

Price-wise, you’ll be happy to know that most lines are remaining the same as AKURUM with only several increasing.  So, I’m hearing more customization, for little-to-no more money!

Overall, I’m impressed with the options offered by IKEA’s new SEKTION kitchen system.  I would have liked to see a few more ‘classic traditional’ door options added, but I can’t complain, they still have some great ones available.

Are you planning a kitchen remodel in the near future? What do you think of the SEKTION cabinet line?  My favorite door at the moment is the GRIMSLOV (formerly ADEL).

The post SEKTION | The New IKEA Kitchen Line appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

If you are looking for free art printables I recommend the following resources:

Remodelaholic’s Art Print Collection

New York Public Library Images

11 Prints from Organic Authority

17 Printables from Brit + Co

A Painted Hive’s Collection of Printable Resources

*contains affiliate links*

The post Affordable Art Prints appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

By the time Christmas roles around we are all in different stages of life.  I’m sure we all would love to jump head first into the seasonal decorating and deck our halls will wreaths and holly, but that just isn’t always practical.  Jake and I are currently in the middle of a home renovation which involves a chop saw in our dining room, a second story sans any flooring, and an toilet-less bathroom (to name the worst offenders).

When October (why does it have to be so early??) came and all of blogland was blissfully draping garlands across anything and everything, I thought to myself… Will we even bother to decorate for Christmas?

After all, there are a million projects that need time and energy around our home right now, why waste it on holiday decor?  Plus, who wants to see a sparkly Christmas tree next to a pile of sawdust?  I would not call the current state of our house ‘decoration-ready’.

But, we did decorate for Christmas. And here’s why…

We could have said, oh forget it, we’ll do something nice next year and got on our merry way towards installing more flooring and getting our bathroom back in working order.  But, we dedicated several evenings and a few corners of the less-construction-zone-y rooms to bring some festivity and Christmas cheer to our home.

Choosing to decorate amidst the chaos says: while we may not be finished with many projects, we are content with the home we live in.   Dust may cover every square inch of our house at times, but this is still our dwelling place.  We may have a gazillion unfinished projects that are clamoring for our attention, but there is a reason for this season and it deserves our first thoughts.

Our house may not have the most beautiful display of white and gold tinsel, and it’s certainly not swimming in boughs of holly, but it is a little ray of light in our home this season.  Reminding us to nest despite the chaos, to celebrate the birth of our Savior, and to rest in the construction zone that is our home.

I even brought a little holiday cheer to work with this festive Christmas tree art.  (Let’s be honest, this environment is much more cleanly to decorate than our home at the moment!)

Wishing you contentment, rest, and cheer this Christmas and many more to come! (And make sure to stop by and visit all of these lovely ladies’ Christmas home tours!)

The post Holiday Decorating While Under Construction appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

How do you deal with this issue when you put all your money towards your new home and have none left to furnish it with?  I’ve been struggling with this problem myself as Jake and I have only been in our new place for four months.  I want to share a few ways I’ve been coping with new-and-empty-house syndrome and hopefully you will be able to start feeling more at-home at home.

Celebrate the Little Changes

Although many of rooms do not have furniture yet, and certainly none of them have any decorations up yet, we have been making updates and progress on the house.  We’ve painted several rooms, added light fixtures, floored a portion of the house, and removed a popcorn ceiling.  When I go into these rooms, I could choose to focus on the barren walls and the lack of furniture, or I can look in those rooms and see the fresh paint and new light fixtures.  I can focus on the color of the floor and how it complements our rug.  It’s hard not to focus on what’s lacking, but continually bringing your attention to the positives and little progresses will help you feel more at home and comfortable in the new place.

Live in the Imperfection

Sometimes I tell myself, once these rooms are decorated, then we’ll have a party and invite people over.  When I do that, I’m not living in the imperfections. That’s essentially telling myself, this house isn’t decent enough for anyone to view and it’s certainly not ‘home’ material.  In order to feel the comfort of home even in our house’s imperfect state, I need to be free to invite anyone over now.  When we welcome others into our house despite it’s imperfections we are living in it here and now and can find more comfort and peace with its current state.

Decorate Seasonally

This year as Christmas approaches I find myself wondering if we should even bother decorating for it.  We have a million and one other projects to work on in the house, why waste our time on Christmas decorations?  But, by refusing to decorate seasonally, I’m telling myself the current state of my home isn’t good enough.  Certainly there is improvement to be done, but to find contentment with my current situation I need to allow myself the time to put up those Christmas pieces.  You need to allow yourself this too!

Living in this starting phase can be tough, you long for the days when your rooms will be furnished and ‘picture worthy’.  But even though things are empty and unfinished, you can still find contentment and comfort in your new home by keeping things in perspective.  A beautiful home is curated over time, so relax and enjoy the process!

The post Handling the Decor Voids of a New Home appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

Oh, overdyed rugs…

Your bright and saturated hues,

Your modish nod to older times renewed.

That’s all I got…. but seriously, have you been seeing these colorful rugs lately?  What a fun and unique way to reinvent a time-proven piece.  Classic oriental rugs are beautiful, and have stood the test of time for a reason.  But, if you’re looking to diverge from the traditional, may I suggest you check out these beauties?

So is it horrible that we only have less than half our flooring in, and I’m already thinking about covering it up??  As beautiful as wood floors are, an area rug just makes a room so much cozier!  Typical me, planning 100 steps too far ahead…

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

Anyhow, I would totally love to rock one of these in either our living room or den.  I haven’t decided what color though.. I love the fuschia rugs and the bright turquoise too, but they may be a bit much….  Perhaps a more jewel toned blue, or an emerald would work well in our den.

And of course I would want to DIY it.  I’d love to find an old worn out rug on Craigslist or the thrift store and give this a try.  There are a couple of great tutorials out there of bloggers who have tried this neat trend themselves.  Jane from the Borrowed Abode dyed a wool rug turquoise to brighten up her basement.  Robert at Design Lines Ltd. went bold with a bright yellow overdyed rug.  Over at Turn of the Century Blog, Cassandra shows how she overdyed a rug in deep purple.  And Nancy from Powell Brower dyed her rug a beautiful turquoise.

Maybe sometime in the near(ish) future I will add myself to the ranks of these brave DIYers!  But for now… it’s back to flooring

The post An Ode to Overdyed Rugs appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.

Stenciling is such a great option for high impact walls on a budget.  Wallpaper is back in black, folks.  And this time it’s in more graphic and bold patterns than ever, which means they are totally replicable with stencils!

I shared my half bath plans a few days ago, with a stencil design inspired by my favorite dining room.

via

Since deciding on this look for the half bath I’ve been seeing this same wallpaper pop up all around the interwebs!  It’s called Imperial Trellis in Citrine by Schumacher.  I love how regal it is, with a bit of whimsy thrown in.  And the yellow is just so cheery!!

Below I found an image of the Imperial Trellis in citrine color in a bathroom.  Ours will be a bit more muted with 2/3 of the wall covered in white board and batten.

via

I was able to find a stencil replica of this wallpaper on etsy.  The best part is, the stencil is reusable so I can create some beautiful fabric patterns to decorate with as well.  Check out all these inspiring photos that use the imperial trellis pattern:

Imperial Trellis Inspiration

via

via

via

via

via

via

Have I sold you on the imperial trellis yet?  Are you rarin’ to go by yourself one???  If you don’t feel like spending $40, you could always try your hand at creating the stencil yourself.  Hello Gorgeous has a sweet tutorial!

The post Imperial Trellis – My Stencil of Choice appeared first on Naomi Bjerk.