Design Psychie: Dinning Al Fresco

From tea parties to birthday celebrations to back yard BBQ's, dinning out doors has been a wonderful summer tradition. 
In this case we created a space for a late afternoon lunch. Overall it kind of reminds me of an "Alice in Wonderland" vibe. We wanted a space that was functional with a little chic added to it. Eating out doors allows a little more freedom to relax and linger. Maybe its because all the prep can take place elsewhere and you can forget about clean up and live in the moment!
Whatever the case may be, I say seize every opportunity to Dine Al Fresco; whether it be at your a yummy restaurant, in your back yard or at the park.
For this particular event we wanted to create a space for girlfriends to gather and chat the afternoon away. The accessories where use to make one feel like the indoors had literally been transported outside.  No walls to confine you, yet still classy and chic.

Chatter was the second most important element to us...behind the delicious food of course! So plate settings were kept to one side of the table as it was rather long and it created a more group like setting, perfect for conversation.

We used a combination of textures in the linens as well as in the plate settings to create warmth and an inviting atmosphere. A little side tip: your dishes do not need to be a matching set. Mix a few from various table settings to create a whole new look. We do it with outfits, why not dishes. In this case white dishes from all different sets were used to create a more vintage feel.

Lastly, don't forget color! Being outdoors is  the perfect opportunity to use bold beautiful colors. Colors you might be too afraid to use inside. Colors that stir emotions and feelings. Colors capture nature and make it pop! This table runner from Pier1 has great colors, from mustard yellow to bright pink. It was to perfect compliment to the wild flowers and greenery all around.

So remember Dinning Al Fresco is a great way to feel amazing. Just look at this list of benefits:
*A Dose of Vitamin D- essential for a healthy life style.
*Color- Just having blue skies and green grass can create tranquility and healing. Adding other colors will cause additional positive vibes.
*Sociability- Dining outdoors causes us to slow down and enjoy a meal with great company. No eating in the car, in front of the T.V. while outside. But rather a chance to enjoy conversation and good company.

So for your next get together, think about moving it outside and enjoy the beauty mother nature gave us!

Design Spotlight: Great Spaces From Top To Bottom with Carrie Leavitt!

Welcome people!  

Come one come all to the DIY spotlight!  The DIY spotlight is devoted to those who have enough gusto to tackle those projects on their own, have fun, save money, and beautify their environment. Carrie Leavitt is a self taught design diva.  Not a day goes by that she isn't diving head first into a home makeover project.  Carrie has invited The Grande Design team into her home to showcase her canvas and the masterpiece that she, her husband Andrew, and their three children, Dee Dee, Sissy, and Allie, call home.  The living room is the pioneer in a series of posts that will feature the many rooms of  “Leavitt Crossing.”  Rescued from the clutches of 6 college students, this 1970's rambler in suburban Orem Utah, was anything but beautiful.  This potential frat house was transformed from it's tract build appeal to a custom villa. 

Carrie and Andrews living room has morphed through the years to this butterfly of a space.  Hand scrapped hard woods adorn the entry way.  The couple opted for solid wood doors over the builder grade doors that were original to the home; it just supplies a custom look.  The color is a neutral tone that was practically stolen from the local Habitat For Humanity, ReStore...  five dollars!  

The fireplace is marvelous!  The grand mantel is a concrete finished to mimic a solid limestone piece.  Carrie found it post in the online classifieds for seventy five dollars.  After a grueling install, this fireplace was finished off with honed travertine tiles.  Accessories purposefully placed are the icing on the cake.

Carrie was able to find budget furniture and make it shine.  She repurposed a night stand as an end table and painted it a soothing cream.  Carrie was able to find an over sized coffee table at a local consignment shop.  She left it in it's original state and simply accessorized using a department store mirror as a cleaver tray.

The two arm chairs are an Overstock.com purchase.  They were sold as a two pack for just over six hundred dollars.  A slash of turquoise paint refreshes a simple console table between the two chairs.

The Leavitts received a free grandfather style clock when they purchased furniture at a local home retailer; Carrie couldn't be satisfied until the honey stain was covered by this warm olive green.

 Along with the doors and the floors, this entry way was given the royal treatment with a large black credenza, over which, Carrie hung an ornate mirror...  Of course restyled using flat chalky gray paint.  This over-sized beauty grounds the space.  Every room should have a black element.

Carries design advise: use down-filled pillows always!  They fluff and crease perfectly, not to mention, down pillows don't slid around on leather furnishing.  Carrie says to splurge on a few nice throw pillows, they beckon comfort and are perfect for design pallet inspiration and add a finishers touch.

Money saving tip: find accessories at thrift stores and spray paint them a solid color to cover ugly and create cohesion.

Visit Us At The Pleasant Grove Promenade!

Hey Everyone!

We are going to be at the Pleasant Grove Promenade, Thursday evenings from 5pm-9pm We will have everything from restyled furniture, to custom home accents. We will also be able to answer any decorating questions and set up appointments on the spot! We look forward to getting to visit with you all in person, so come see us all summer long at the park off Main Street in Pleasant Grove for an awesome time! 

Check out our great deal below, available the whole month of JULY!

Trends We Love: In the Lighting World

Lighting can create the perfect ambiance in any room and right now many of the trends you will see in lighting are allowing the combination of  multiple styles into one. The juxtaposition of metal with soft, modern with traditional, industrial with fabric are allowing two style senses to come together as one. So as you are planing how to fuse all the great senses of style in your home, light might just be the way to do it. 

Below are some great finds of how this trend is being showcased all around. And don't forget about how something old can be restyled to be something new, just like the 80's chandelier redone in our previous blog.http://www.thegrandedesign.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-80s-can-still-have-luxury.html.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you choose your next lighting fixture:

1. Don't be afraid of combining styles. A metallic base can go great with a soft fabric.

2. If you find something you absolutely love but the proportion is too small, try clustering it in a group of three and varying heights. It could make a great statement piece.

3. Remember the purpose of your lighting. If it is for the living room- light up only 3 of the 4 corners and then use some light to showcase some art. If it is for the dining room- bring people to the center, hang a chandelier above the table. The bedroom- create a cozy affect, nothing too bight on each side of the bed. And the kitchen-over head lighting is a must, so your work space is fully illuminated. .