~ July Giveaway #2 ~

Remember these pretty storage boxes I picked up and I said I didn't find anything to go in them? Well, this really nice company {Prime-Line Products in California} sent me these wall protectors, which I've split into two sets of 6. One set I'm going to hold onto for now for a future giveaway, but one set of 6 is going into one of these boxes as GIVEAWAY #2!

Top view

I am doing this for a couple of reasons. One, while I know that once you actually use these protectors {they have saved a few doorknobs from going through my walls} you will love them and, two, I also realize that they aren't the snazzy giveaway item you are all used to. Plus, who knows, there may be one really creative individual out there who sees them being used in another way.

Side view

Remember, you can paint these disks so they blend in with your wall, and they are so much better than having a door stop screwed into your floor molding, or the door itself, to prevent the knob from causing damage.

All you have to do to enter to win these pretty storage boxes AND set of 6 wall protectors is leave a comment. That's it.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only {sorry my Canadian friends; I'm paying shipping} and will end on Thursday, July 16th, at midnight. I will announce the winner on Friday, July 17th, using a random number generator.

~ Price My Space ~

Here's a link to the Nesting Place blog where you can find "Price my $pace".

Just to give you an idea of what I was working with, I'm including this "before" picture. This room had been a peachy pink color until I fell in love with material I found on eBay, which became the stationery panels in the picture. The fabric was about $40.00 {I wouldn't have paid more than that for fabric on eBay.} The teal I originally chose was too bright and more of an aqua, so I had to start over with the paint. The color made me feel very restless in this room. If I count this first disaster of painting, it would be about $40.00 for 2-gallons of paint.

So, we changed things around as well. The two side storage armoire pieces moved into the sitting room/closet and surrounding my husband's dresser look like they are built-ins. We got rid of the middle storage/mirrored piece altogether. I bought new paint SherwinWilliams' Martha Stewart "Milk Pail" {a line they don't carry anymore}, so that was another $40.00 {total of $80.00 for paint alone}.

The chair in the corner was actually there in the "before", it was just covered with throw pillows. I bought a new shade for that lamp and moved into the sitting/closet area {not counting this since it left the room}.

I have 6-5x7 Fern prints over my bed {in a 3 over 3 pattern}. I got the bookplate-looking prints off eBay - 7 for about $15.00; the mats {eBay} were 7 for maybe $12.00; and the frames {also eBay} were about $35-40.00 {I'll figure the high end} ~ so these 6 {really 7} framed and matted prints cost $67.00. The 7th is on the other side of the room on a smaller wall.

I got the lamps from JC Penney, on sale/clearance, for $29.99 each. The side tables came from Bombay {boo-hoo} when they had one of their infamous $49.00 table promotions. I got the Queen comforter set from Home Goods for $49.99 {comforter, dust ruffle, 2 shams}.

The fabric that started this whole thing, when transformed into panels {4 panels total} cost me about $350.00. Grand total, not including the bed, chair or roman shades {because I can't remember at all what I might have paid for 4 of those} comes to $744.97.

Blog Of The Week ~ Interior Concepts by Wanda

Wanda Horton is a very talented designer based in North Carolina. She shares her knowledge, experience and talent through her blog Interior Concepts by Wanda.

I enjoy reading her blog because she always puts such great inspiration images in with her text so you know exactly what she is talking about. One of her recent posts on home office organizing, gave some ideas {visually, as well} on how you could decorate and organize your own office.

Whether talking about color, pattern, outdoor decorating, inspiration or resources, Wanda always keeps it interesting, which is probably why I'm always back to read more!

In addition to her blog, Wanda runs a successful interior design business. She has won numerous awards for her work and keeps herself current on design trends through continuing education. Below is a picture from her website showing just one of her many fabulous designs.

Photo courtesy of Interior Concepts by Wanda

I hope you will take some time to visit Wanda's blog and website, and get to know her a little better. If she offers the same support and friendliness to her clients as she offers to her peers, it is no wonder she is so successful!

Special Anniversary Offer & The Oaks at Broadlawn

To coincide with Creative Home Expression's four year anniversary, I am offering a special to the residents at The Oaks at Broadlawn (Massapequa, New York).

Having decorated the model condominiums at The Oaks, I have been working with several of the homeowners. I am setting up two weekends for first time consultation appointments - Saturday, July 25th and Saturday, August 15th. The first time consultation fee will be $60.00 per hour (down from $75.00), and the waiver of the travel fee will continue - that's a savings of $65.00!

If you've been considering making an appointment for a consultation - now is the time! I can help you with furniture lay-out and placement, color, window treatments, accessories, lighting and purchases.

You can contact me via email at kathyp@creativehomeexpressions.com or phone at (631) 987-3097. You can visit our website at http://www.creativehomeexpressions.com/ to learn more about me and my company.

Minimum of 4 appointments on each date. Offer expires on August 14, 2009. Offer open to first time consultations only. Regular hourly fee will apply if a date different from what is offered is chosen, as well as once offer expires.

This is a non-comment post and is just for informational purposes to reach the homeowners at The Oaks at Broadlawn.

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are located on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign, color consultations and more. Please visit our website for more information on our services and fees.

~ So A-warding Blogs ~

Since devoting so much more time to my blog, I have come across many, many blogs written by creative, crafty, talented, experienced, sharing, caring, thrifty, colorful, sexy and thoughtful woman {the list could go on}; many of whom have inspired me to spruce up my blog a bit, think about what I'm writing, and who I'm writing it for.

There are days when I visit one blog only to click on a sidebar button which takes me to another, then from that blog to another, and so on! You could be reading blogs all day! {Not that it's a bad thing}.

I'd like to take the time today to recognize some of these blogs with awards that have been so kindly shared by Miss Eve of Absolutely Ladylike. It is truly rewarding, and well worth the time, to read these blogs. I believe that a little recognition never hurt anybody! I hope that if you haven't yet, you will check out these fine "award winning" blogs.

Marie at Decorator on Demand is such a sweetie, I have to recognize her with The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award. Marie always shares the great items she comes across and is always right there supporting her fellow bloggers!

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is an Absolutely Ladylike Blogger which comes across in her posts and I love how she shares her bargains, tips and tricks, and excursions.

The Creative Blogger Award goes to Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for her creativity on beautifying her home on a budget ~ and she makes it work! Sarah reminds me of myself when I was a SAHM of two and EVERYTHING was done on a budget.

The Delightful Blogger Award goes to a new {to me} blog I recently came across called The Stylish House {even the title sounds stylish!} Cathy is an ASID Interior Designer and shares a wealth of information and experience in her posts. Her use of pictures to go along with her posts are positively delightful!

Melissa at The Inspired Room always has great things going on over at her blog. Hers is one of the first blogs I subscribed to when I realized I had that option! Her subject matter and inspiration pictures are "delicious" and, like the Boston Creme donuts I used to enjoy before I became gluten free, I can't get enough of her posts {plus it has 0 calories}. To Melissa I bestow the Delicious Blogger Award.

In addition to these awards, I'd like to thank these ladies for sharing all that they do on their blogs; know that I enjoy reading what you've put out there and look forward to what you still have to share. I'm sure many others would agree with me.

The Winner Of Giveaway #1 . . .

Congratulations Vitania ~ You have won this pampering giveaway!

Just to recap, Vitania has won the following:

Item 1 The Lumbar Wrap from The Happy Company. Part of their The Down To Earth Collection, this wrap is part of a naturally environmentally friendly line of relaxation products filled with flax seeds and eucalyuptus with 100% organic un-dyed cotton covers and a symbolic embroidered Mother Earth on each piece.

Item 2 A Mini Me Sampler from agoodnightkiss. Featuring two sachet blends they are housed in a recyclable metal 2 oz. tin. The all natural, vegan and 100% certified organic line of bath products not only soothe but eradicate dry skin.

Item 3 Dionis by Polysciences, Inc. Weekend Gardener exfoliating bar soap allows you to wash away dirt and grime while gently exfoliating with beneficial and soothing oatmeal. Each item in this line is blended with the fragrance of fresh lavendar, invigorating sparkling citrus, beneficial botanical herbs, soothing aloe, antioxidant Vitamin E and refreshing lemongrass to fully moisturize and protect hardworking hands and soothe tired muscles.

I hope you will enjoy using them!

Vitania ~ Please send your full name and mailing address to kathyp(at)creativehomeexpressions(dot)com (of course, with the proper @ and .)

~ A Fantasy Getaway ~

My new issue of Architectural Digest arrived and while looking through it, I came across an article about interior designer Diane Burn, who created this gorgeous getaway on Isla Taboga, Panama (San Pedro). While I wouldn't want to travel that far, I'm sure you could incorporate some of her ideas into your own home to make your very own getaway.

These are just a few of the pictures from the magazine article. I love the colors used here and the seamless flow to the next room (which leads outdoors).





I love this kitchen window and the casual simplicity of the storage; the wall cabinet is a display and functional piece at the same time.






This is the room next to the first room pictured above. The texture to those needlepoint pillows, along with the wicker, the metal, the smoothness of the walls, the shapes and colors of the plants brings this whole area together for me. I'd love to be sitting there reading a book.






Here is a view from the balcony of the cottage.




The little peek of hammock from this doorway, where it looks shaded by island plants, has "nap" written all over it!





Have you made a getaway in your own home?