melonie gallegos dot com

 

Choosing plants for a dark room #decoproject

The office is almost complete. There are only two elements missing to give it a finished look: 1. plant life and 2. accent art. I am still waiting on my Etsy art for the large wall. I ordered it weeks ago with no word. Love the unique products on Etsy but am turned off by purchasing items from sites with individual sellers.

In the mean time I picked up a tall snake plant from Walter Anderson Nursery down the street from my home. I prefer using nurseries close to home because their plants are acclimated to the environment. In theory, lessening the chances of me killing it once I get it home. I have no idea if this has any factual standing but in my mind it sounds logical. The cute little plant on the shelf is moss. I love how his bright green color adds life to "the cave". If you are working with dark wood, contrast with lime green or light green vs. dark green or purple foliage to break up the sea of darkness. Especially on stacks of shelves where shadows cast into the wood create little dark caves. Nature created a color scheme for this, if you think about it everything that grows in the shade or in a cave comes in vibrant colors. Neon algae, bright green moss, wispy green ferns, and natural occurring minerals like amethyst. Mother Nature knows how to make it pop.

According to the helpful woman working in the houseplant nursery, both the moss and the snake plant do well in the dark. Yes! A second factor lessening the likelihood murdering them since my office has no windows or natural light. Another option for dark rooms are ferns. In my experience ferns aren't very hardy so while I love the look I know I've never kept one alive for more than a week. I took a chance on the moss instead let's see how that goes.

 

(download)

Posted from San Diego, CA
 

A quiet day in Conneticut

(download)
Posted from Waterbury, CT
 

Designer drink coasters. Seriously? #decoproject

I know you're probably thinking "now she's gone too far". The truth is my metrosexual, live in lover Downtown Rob won them from the Imagine blog. We (huhumm he) received the prize in the mail today, a set of SCAD Jesse Walker coasters that lo and behold they go perfectly with my new office accessories. This was completely unplanned. Do you love it darrling?

Photo

Posted
 

Dahlias in the Bathroom #decoproject

The Challenge:
Replace a flimsey bathroom shelf whose true use was a towel rack by my 16yr old. What an eye sore! I found this great dahlia on canvas to anchor the large wall and needed to decorate around it with a storage solution.

Solution:
Luckily, design guru Jami Goldsmith talked me out of another shelf and into grouping my art with this fantastic decorative towel rack. And, The open space sans furniture made the small bathroom look much bigger. I love the modern meets classic look of the rack and the way the soft color palette breaks up the blue and brown bathroom theme.

Dahlia on stretched canvas $70 (Overstock.com)
Towel Rack $24 (Pier 1 Imports)

(download)

Posted
 

A bit of this and that for the office #decoproject

I've been learning a few things from interior designer Jami Goldsmith during my decorating project. Here's a little bit of this + that I picked up this morning to give the office a finished look.

The Situation

The BIG office wall above our workspace has been daunting. With a large piece of art on an opposite wall taking up eye space in this small nook it was a challenge to figure out what to do with it.

Office {Big Wall on Right}

Office_view


The Solution

A set of three wood art accents to compliment the current art without competing with it. And matching his and her mousepads to tie it all together.

Etsy Focus Line Art paintings by Tracy Melton {Upcycled art and recycled modern natural design}

 

Circles

Zazzle His and Her Retro Circle Mouse Pads

Circles_mp_mg
Circles_mp_rob

Posted
 

Something white and something clear #decoproject @jamigoldsmith

Left with a couple final decorative details for the office and living room at Jami's direction I was on the hunt this weekend for something small and white to hang in the entry way and a large clear floor vase to replace one that wasn't workin quite right in the office. Here's what I found...

I looked everywhere and finally resorted to diggin around Big Lots to find this sea shell art, just $10.00

Photo

The large clear vase I was after could have been sourced at Pottery Barn for about $100.00, I dreaded the investment and looked high and low to land one from Marshall's for only $20.00. Add a bit of $15 West Elm sand (I know, I bought sand), and reeds fromTJ Maxx $20 and we have an expensive modern look.

Photo_2

Posted from San Diego, CA
Posterous theme by Cory Watilo.