Holly Days! This weekend!

Come visit me at the Taylored booth at Sanderson High School's annual

Holly Days

craft/gift vendor fair THIS weekend! 

When? Saturday, 9 - 5 pm, Sunday, 11 - 4

Where? SHS, 5500 Dixon Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609

Great place to finish your Christmas shopping!

 

 

.:Updo:. Taylor Office/Guestroom

Towards the end of this Summer, Jake and I renovated our guest room.  It was always the room of our 2-story, two bedroom townhome that "bothered" me.  I wanted a space that could serve as a practical yet lounge-ish type office but a comfortable and relaxing guest room.  We choose a relaxing, almost sea green and matched it with tans and expresso browns in hopes of it one day being able to easily transition into a gender-neutral nursery.

...before/left wall...

...after/left wall...

...before/right wall...

wall art in this picture: plywood covered with inexpensive placemats!

...after/right wall...

 New Items:

• Hudson Daybed from www.daybeds.com 
• Expedit bookshelf/shelving unit from IKEA 
• Asker White storage cubbies from IKEA 
• Basic Tan bed quilt from Target

Oh India!

Lately I've been MIA trying to get back in the routine of things since our India trip.  Everyday since we've been back it's been work, work, work and our past two weekends were filled with 1) HSM student ministry retreat which was awesome, and 2) seeing our good friends Lindsey and Kasey get hitched! What fun!  This week I'm leading a renovation of the Sanderson High School teacher lounge - we're trimming and painting every second we get this week! (I'll post pictures soon!)

Here are a couple highlights for me from India:

Some of the girls in the orphanage greeted us with fresh Jasmine leis the first night we visited.  Next, we walked through the small cinderblock chapel as girls and boys sat on each side singing praise songs as we entered.

                                    

Delivering the gift bags to the leper colony families was really special.  This young lady's face would light up when I showed her the toys, shampoo, soap, lotion that was in her bag.  I was humbled by their excitement in such "little things."

These were two girls from the village who on our walk down to the river for a baptism, held my arms the entire way.  Their welcome, despite me being a complete stranger who did not share their language, they welcomed me with incredible love and kindness.

 What a wonderful, challenging, life changing trip! If you are interested in reading more about our trip and how we are continuing to be involved in the people's lives in India, please check out www.globalhopeindia.org 

.:Tidy Tuesday:. Updates...

This week I am feeling very productive and relieved to finally have our guest room FINISHED, minus a few finishing touches.  I promise, pictures are being edited as we speak and will be posted ASAP!  For this little guest room project, I wanted to use as much of the accessories and furniture that we could, with spending some time in Ikea for a couple extras.  One of my favorite projects for the guest room has been finding fun fabric to cover some pillows I had.  These large pillows came with our living room couch and chair set when we bought it, but were quickly pushed aside when I found a more trendy patterned pillow from Pier One.  Check out how I transformed these babies:


.:BEFORE:.

.:AFTER:.

I have 2 of these which will go great on our new daybed that looks like this:

On a personal note:

Jake and I leave for India in less than 2 weeks! We are getting so excited and are just so humbled by the graciousness of family and friends who are supporting us with this crazy adventure of a trip I know it will be!  Please check out and subscribe to  http://www.globalhopeindia.org/ to stay updated on our travels and what's happening with us in India!  One of the neat projects we are praying to do in India is to break ground on a girl's dorm for the orphanage there.  For 12 years, the girls in the orphanage have been sleeping on the floors in the small church building nearby.  Our hopes are to raise enough money by the time we arrive in Hyderabad to begin the process of this being built.    Please checkout the website to see how you can help!

Jake's music website has also launched this week - which is just another stepping stone to his dream becoming reality.  Check it out to read his blog, see his show schedule, and listen/buy his music! 

.:Taylored:. ~ Sam Ed's Bookshelf Up-do!

A couple weekends ago I had the chance to spend time with my good friend Samantha Edwards.  She had a plain 'ole wooden bookshelf that she had to move downstairs in her simple, neutral colored living room.  All of the furniture in her living room is either black or white or tan, so she wanted this wooden bookshelf to blend in, rather than stand out.  It's funny how even a small bookshelf can throw off the balance in a room if the color doesn't blend well.  Samantha was having a hard time with this, so in a day's work, we set out to re-do this bookshelf into a simple weathered, white bookshelf.  The results were are so pleasing! Check it out:

.:Before:.

.:During:.

.:AFTER:.

We had sweet Copper's approval I think! :) 

.:Tidy Tuesday:. Need a new room "up-do?"

Need a new "up-do" to a room or space in your home?  Not feeling so hot about your bedroom?  Know you need to re-organize that guest room closet but just don't know where to start? I'd love to help!

Services offered:


Consultation/Walk Through:. Meet and greet, visit of space, shares ideas [Free]


Sx3 (Simple small space) De-Clutter Session [$10/hr]
Involves taking out the “stuff” you just don’t need. Small spaces such as desk areas, shelving, small closets, bathroom cabinets, & kitchen cabinets.

Closet Makeover [$50]

The Re-do. Take everything out, color coding, de-clutter.  Purpose: so that early morning rush is a little more pleasant.

Closet Switcheroo [$12/hr]

In with the cold weather clothes, out with the summer clothes.  Involves taking that old pink wool sweater to Goodwill, too.

Space Staging [$15/hr]

Furniture re-arrange, simple accessory additions, simplifying of a space



Garage/Attic Re-Organization [$15/hr]

Heavy duty dumping. OR finding usable items you forgot you had!

Office Space Clean-up [$15/hr]
Workin’ on your workin’ space – filing papers, cleaning out old ones, making your space more aesthetically pleasing to work in



Unpacking/moving help [$15/hr]
‘Nuf said. For all seasons of life.

Furniture Up-do $[15/hr]

Givin’ grandma’s antique chest a new ‘do.



Whole Room Makeover/Update [$20/hr]

For those ready for a BIG change. From the walls & furniture tothe accessories. Budget friendly ideas only.

Referral Credit Offer [$20]

For each client you send my way, I will donate $20 worth of services…to YOU



Here’s how it works:
1) I will come in and evaluate your space, take pictures, and interview you on what you need. (First consultation free)


2) Secondly, I will come up with a draft plan of what I think needs to be done in the space.


3) I will then contact you and share my ideas with you. We’ll work together (with as much involvement as you’d like to have) to finalize ideas.


4) Finally, I will come over for a session to “take care of business.”


5) The End = You’ll be a happy, de-cluttered person, and life will perhaps be a little more simple


*All proceeds now through December are tax deductible and go towards mission/orphanage work in Hyderabad, India!!!*

.:Tidy Tuesday:. Pretty & Practical Storage for the Daily "Stuff"

Today was quite a Monday-like Tuesday! Glad it's such a short work week!  We are planning to head to IKEA in Charlotte with my mother-in-law on Saturday! I'm already making my (small) list of things I'd like.  I always have to refrain from spending my paycheck in that store - such good, practical items they have!


Here are some pretty and practical storage ideas for the clutter that often seems to take up extra space around us:

Trendy Towel/Washcloth "Rack" - stolen from the wine pantry.
  Nice way to display clean towels especially in guest rooms.

Sweet Magazine Storage - Stolen from the pantry.  

Cover old cereal boxes with contact paper/shelf liner OR scrapbook

paper to make a pretty magazine box.  I plan to keep my 

REAL SIMPLE favorite mags here.

Sheek Tissue Paper Storage - Much prettier
than sittin' on the back of the toilet, eh?



Easy-for-the-stashing baskets - For that everyday
mail, keys, etc...

Many times we don't have to go out and buy "new" storage items...

we might even just have it right under our own roof!

.:Tidy Tuesday:.Easy Organization Tips for the Busy Lady

Welp, school has started back in full force. I’m thankful that teaching interior design does give me an avenue for utilizing my organization bug (there are ALWAYS papers or something in the classroom to organize) and my creative heart (I really enjoy coming up with new projects to help teach my students design concepts!). However, with the school year, much to my dismay, comes much busy-ness. This has been a struggle for me as I learn what being a wife is all about AND 4th year teacher (yay!) AND girls’ small group leader AND daughter, sister, friend….SO I enjoy finding new ways to stay organized at home. I may have a touch of OCD, but I still think it’s fun and it really does keep me sane to be organized at all times, in all areas of my life. Here are some practical tips I’ve collaborated from 1) my first couple of years living with a man , 2) an old REAL LIFE magazine from readers on organization, 3) good advice from friends:


• When cleaning and/or organizing, listen to music! It’s fun and speeds me up actually!
My current fave: Ingrid!


• Have a small trash can in the house just for recycle. Read and sort through the mail near, or somedays even over that recycle bin. You know the majority of mail just adds up to clutter!


• If you don’t need it, GIVE IT AWAY! Don’t we all have a lot of “stuff” that we don’t use?


• Label, label, label! Solves the “Honey, where are the ________?” questions.


• Bulletin boards! Near stairwells, entryways, on the back of doors for those paper/events/business cards we can’t lose!  Ballard Designs has some really fun and functional magnet, bulletin boards:




• Store gift wrap in plastic storage containers with rollers on the bottom. Hide the under the bed for easy access.


• GIVE the gift of organization – exchange “help sessions” with a friend for a special occasion gift…(I’ll help put up your Christmas décor if you help organize my closet!)


• Pick up the daily “stuff” (shoes, jackets, couch blanket) and take it upstairs on your way to bed.


• Color code your closet. It will help those early mornings run a little bit smoother when you are looking for clothes for the day.


• Do it yourself. Why cause an argument when it will take you 2 seconds to pick up his wet towel from off your new carpet?


• Marry a “clean freak” – then he’ll do it himself :)

!Exciting News!

Jake and I have recently confirmed and are stepping out in faith to go with a small team in October to Hyberabad, India!!!  On this trip, we will have the opportunity to spend time with orphans in a small orphanage, visit with a leper colony, and worship with/serve alongside a local church there.  We are SO excited about using the talents God has given us to serve and grow on this trip!  The website http://www.globalhopeindia.org/ explains a little more about the ministry we'll be working with/through.

I will be donating all proceeds from organization/decor jobs now until December towards this trip!  What an awesome way for YOU to get involved indirectly in some cool things that are happening in India, (AND you get a little something for it!)  Please email me at btayloreddesigns@gmail.com if you'd like to schedule a "de-clutter session" or would like to update a room/space in your home!!!  All proceeds will be tax-deductible.

"Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong..."

2 whole years ago today I had the privilege of marrying my best friend and college sweetheart! What an adventure it has been, these two years, learning how to live together, communicate with each other in our differences, and start dreaming of our mission as a couple!


Here's to 2 times 25 years and then some!!! 

So right now my favorite thing to do is search for fun, old usable pieces of furniture and paint them, change knobs, and add them to a room for a shabby, chic look...check out the sea blue "kitchen island" above...who would've thought?

I love the celery green of this one!

post #1...patience please!

yep. This is my first attempt at blogging and sharing fun and usable ideas for the home and life.  Be patient with me as posts may not be as consistent and often as I'd like :)