Green with Envy

So I ended up putting all of the green photos I made on the mantel.  I took all of my favorite pictures and uploaded them onto www.photoshop.com.  You will need to make a log-in if you are a first time user.  After putting all of my pics into the library on the website, you can do virtually anything to the pic.  And it is very user friendly!  So I would just click on a color and they have the tools on there to single that color out.  You can then either keep it the same color, or change it to a different one.  This is the arrangement I ended up liking the most...

3 out of the 5 pictures are funny ones...it helps me smile more through out the day.  They are also great conversation pieces!

All of the green and black and white really seems to give it continuity.  Pick your favorite color and get inspired!

Making the world more beautiful one wall at a time

So apparently I'm crazy for my original idea of wanting to paint one wall five different colors. The guy behind the paint counter at Lowe's gave me that "your nuts" look...very much like the one when ever Bob and I go to Hobby Lobby. So after the paint guy ruined a can of paint showing me it is impossible to mix in between colors, I finally just went with 3 colors. And although my original idea didn't go through as planned, it still turned out amazing! It was so incredibly easy and has a lot of wow factor. Here are pictures of the process...

We just measured the wall and divided it into 3 even sections.  We then put marks on each side of the wall at the same distance.  Next we took a laser pointer/leveler and had it running from marking to marking.  We then used the laser line to put frog tape across in an even line.  And voila!  The reason the paint colors go so well together is because they are all the same shades of gray.  When we went to Lowe's, we just picked out one of those cards that has the 3 colors on it, and that was all there was to it!

The final product!  The maintenance people ended up having to come in to do some repairs and they called the manager.  They asked permission to photograph our town home to put on the website.  I'll give up dates if that goes through! 

The candle holders on the table are from Red Envelope and are about $70...but you can usually find a 10% off code somewhere on line. 

You can see how cool the hanging fish tank looks!  All we need are some fish!

A Modern Painting Anyone Can Make!

I made this painting for my boyfriend for his birthday last year and it took under an hour.  All you need is:

-Several colors of acrylic paint (match it to colors in the room)

-Acrylic paint extender

-foam brushes

-Metal Roofing Shingles (these are the pieces used for the corners of chimneys...I found a large pack of them at Menards for $6...any hardware store should carry them)

-foam pop up craft stickers

-super glue

-canvas

First I started in one coroner and put thick lines of different color paint squirted directly from the bottle onto the canvas facing the same direction.  I then poured a little amount of the paint extender as well.  I just took a foam brush blending the colors just enough so that it wasn't fully mixed.   I repeated this in different directions until the canvas was to my liking.  The great thing about the paint extender, is you can keep redoing it until you're satisfied.  After the paint had dried, I used the super glue to put the foam pop up stickers on the backs of the roofing shingles.  Even thought they are already sticky on each side, they won't hold the metal pieces.  I varied the heights of the foam dots by putting more than one foam dot on some opposed to others.  I then just placed them in different direction and let them dry.  And that is really all there was to it!  You can use any material, do any pattern in the paints...the possibilities are endless!  Here are some other views...

I also varied the metal shingles by taking sand paper and scratching designs into them so the light would reflect differently.

This was a small one I made just using paints, a little quick spray of spray paint, and iron on studs...

My Vision of Decorating to Come...

This is the layout of our soon to be home.  Our style is contemporary and my boyfriend does NOT like color.  So this has been hard trying to figure out a way to make the rooms exciting without punches of color.  So my plan for now is:

Living Room
We are planing on keeping all neutral colors of grays, black, white, and beige.  We are planning on having the main long wall grey, and then the dining room wall and sliding glass door wall we want to do something a bit more exciting.  We are going to get 5 shades of grey and section off the wall into 5 horizantal sections as well.  We then plan on doing a fading paint job with the lightest shade on the top and the darkest on the bottom.  It will be a lot of work, but hopefully very worth it!  I'm hoping once I'm in the space to get more ideas. 

Kitchen

Luckily, all of the applinces are black and our pub style table we already have is black as well.  The only thing I bought extra to put in is a white capiz chandiler to put above the table.  It was $70 and from World Market.


Bedroom:
We wanted this to be our relaxing retreat, so we want it to be very spa like.  We are keeping the walls white and are attempting to update what we already have.  We just painted the old dresser I've had with ultra white paint and bought new handles.  Since the bed my boyfriend has does not have a head board, we are going to make a headboard.  I bought bamboo blinds from Big Lots ($12) and we are going to nail it above the bed.  So the room will revolve around whites and woods.  Hopefully it will turn out the way I'm envisioning it!

Dining Room: 
Besides the fading wall paint, above the buffet we are planning on hanging a fish tank to add another element of "WOW" factor.  In theory this is where we would like to have it, but we may decide on somewhere else.

 

Down stairs bathroom:
I am going to do a mini punch of color with bright greens.  I say mini because I'm going bring this out through photos and plants.  Here is an example of what I am talking about...

So this is the game plan for now...keep checking back to see if all goes as planned and my new ideas!

Welcome to Posh Projects!

Hi!  My name is Lauren Kuta and I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself...In high school I competed in interior design competitions.  When I started college, my focus was interior design all the way.  Then the realization hit that there is not as big of a demand for that market.  So I am currently in school getting my degree for Biology and Chemistry, hoping to go onto Pharmacy.  Although I am studying science, my creative juices are still flowing!  My boyfriend and I are moving into a new town home, and I would love to take this opportunity to share my ideas and projects with everyone out there.  Since I am in college, all of the projects are done on budget.  So I hope you enjoy this journey of creativity and try some of these posh projects for your home!