Halloween Decorating- Easy Bats

We've started decorating for Halloween on the weekend. With a girl at home, Halloween is a huge holiday, and a great chance for us to have fun crafting and thinking of ideas for our home.

One of our favorite crafts is making bats. I got this idea from Country Living, so you probably know it already. In case you don't, it's a wonderful idea. Easy, unexpensive, quick, and huge impact. Seriously. Just take a look at our house!

You'll need:

Black construction paper (I chose one with a soft texture, almost velvet-like)

Scissors

Tape
Bat template from Country Living (get it here) 

How to:

  Start by printing the bat template from Country Living.

It's a good idea to resize with a photocopier. This way you'll have different bat sizes. I used 3 different sizes.

Cut out.

Following the instructions, trace the template onto your paper. Remember the template is only half the bat, so fold you paper to get the whole bat.

Cut.

This is how they look. Spooky!

I cut plenty of bats. Remember, the more, the merrier.

 

Using tape, place them everywhere. I put many in our balcony.

And our downstairs window.

The results are truly amazing! They look very real!

How do you like them?

And they're equally cool from the inside. This is how they look from our bedroom.

There you have it, one of our easiest Halloween crafts. By the way, kids love it, because they can help you out all along the way.

Meanwhile, we're still crafting our way out of Halloween. Our house is a complete mess, but it'll be over soon (I hope), and soon I'll be sharing with you our projects. We're excited, and loving it!  =)

What are you up to?
Are you into Halloween decorating?
Do tell!

On the spotlight - Menamobel

I'm always in the mood for great design, so I'm thrilled to share with you my latest discovery.  Menamobel is a furniture store in Spain, offering modern solutions to everyday issues in small spaces. Could I ask for more? I don't think so!  

A few of the items on their newest catalog:

This would be a cute thing to add to any corner at home.

 But you'll fall in love when you learn it's meant to store shoes.

This is a larger, red version.

I really love it, because mirrors are always cool for opening up small spaces, but it can also store 18 pairs of shoes. That's something to die for!

I'm also digging its living room and dining room options.

Hydra coffee table is simple, sleek, trendy.

Open it up to keep away clutter. Superb!

There's a dining room version of the Hydra table, of course.

It grows to adapt for more guests... I need one right now!

(By the way, I could also use that lovely chandelier.)

Then of course, there are options for all kinds of spaces.

Which is your favorite?

By the way, Menamobel is just about to launch its newest website, with more incredible furniture, a wonderful on-line store, and the catalog, so stay tuned.

I'll keep you posted ;)

How do you like lilac?

I was just talking about black and white as options for decorating, when I bumped into a gorgeous and well designed lilac master bedroom. It hit me right in my heart. You know, I can nuts all over lilac.

This beautiful combination of greys, white and lilac is a creation of Kelly. You should definitely check out her amazing transformations.

Do you like it as much as I do?

I absolutely love it! It's sexy, soft, moody, simply perfect!

By the way, Kelly is participating in Apartment Therapy's Room for Color 2010, so go and vote for her!!!!

What I like about the room:

The soft curtains and the light that comes through them.

Great choice of colors (of course!).

The black and white pillows are beautiful!

Textures, especially the faux fur throw on the bed.

So how do you like it?

vía apartment therapy

Black or White?

Have you noticed black and white trends lately? They are definitely in, and how couldn't they? They are absolutely gorgeous. Each of them offer a chance for us to achieve a touch of elegance in a room, and yet, both represent a big design challenge.

pure style home

Lauren's master bedroom is a perfect "white over white" room. It looks open, clean, totally dreamy. The little touches of wood and green are beautiful sparks of color in the space. 

elle decor

I fell in love with this black room the minute I say it. I love the contrast of the black and white pictures in the frames with the black wall. I find it totally amazing and elegant, while still remaining casual. The outcome? A modern, sophisticated, and daring room. The combination of red, grey, and whites over the dark room fits just fine.

If you're up for the challenge, there are some important things to consider:

If you're going for white:

elle decor

Consider it's a very dirty color, especially if there are any kids around. You should consider using washer-friendly fabrics.

Choose some contrasting accesories to break with the white monotony (such as the pillows in the first image, or the flowers in this room).

If you're going for black:

apartment therapy

Rooms appear smaller with dark colors, so pick visually light furniture.

Use elements to add light in the room (such as the black and white photos, or white sheets).

Be careful if you're using other colors in the room. Try to use only a few (three max), so that the room looks uniform.

With all this in mind, which do you prefer?
Black?
Or white?

Do you dare?
Do share!

Excellent ideas - Decorate for Fall

Fall has finally fallen, and we're surrounded by warm tones in leaves, soothing sounds of wind, sweet aromas in the air, and soft textures in throws and clothing.

Same goes for our home. It's time to get it in the mood for this time of year, with beautiful colors and lovely accents. Plus, it's a foreword for the joyful Holiday season. Here are 5 tips to get your home ready for fall.

1. Start by your entrance

Pottery Barn

Prepare a welcoming door with a fall wreath.
You can try to make your own with fallen leaves, of pinecones. Best thing is you can use this same wreath for Christmas, by simply adding red and green touches.

2. Accesorize with warm tones

house beautiful

A great way to incorporate fall into your home is by using warm-tone accesories. Think gold, orange, and brown.

3. Leaves, leaves, and leaves!

west elm

The main characters in this season are leaves. You can decorate anything from walls, to pillow covers. I love the use of gold in these plates by West Elm, because it gives an extra touch of elegance. 

pottery barn

Using leaves doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. You can pick up leaves and go DIY (love it!). Place fallen leaves anywhere, they are the perfect decorating element this time of year.

4. Candles

ballard designs



Candles bring warmth to a room even without being lit. Choose scents that go with the season for an extra touch of fall.

5. Throws and pillows

horchow

We cannot forget throws and pillows. A throw in your living room or TV room is perfect for guests or family members snuggling on the sofa and late-night chit-chat.

west elm

If you choose pillows, go for knitwear to add texture.

As you see, fall decor shouldn't be elaborate or high-budget. You can buy your own home to bring fall. A few details here and there can really make a difference!