Archives for February 2016

Opening a Home Decor Store

February 18, 2016 Jennifer Davenport Leave a Comment

I am taking the plunge, and opening a home decor store. This March, my husband and I are opening a home decor store. It has been a dream of mine for over 20 years. All of my chicks have left the nest, and it seems the stars have lined up for this new adventure.

Opening a Home Decor Store - JenniferDecorates.com

I decided to record this journey, with a mini VLOG series. It begins at the construction phase of the store.

There are probably some of you that have run or are running a retail business. Please share your comments and wisdom! I’m all ears!

Why Am I Opening a Home Decor Store?

I have been running JD Designs, my interior decorating business for about 10 years. Before that I ran a custom drapery business out of my home. Why open a home decor store now? Why not? I’m 48 years old, and part of me says, “Lady, what are you thinking? You are joining the game late”. But, then I think, who cares how old I am, if this is a dream that could possibly work, better late than never.

I’m interested in creating a store that is an experience. A place that makes people feel warm and fuzzy when they walk in. I’m interested in helping others create a home they love and adore. I do not wish anyone to feel intimidated or overwhelmed when they walk through the door. I have been in many home decor stores that make you feel like you don’t belong. This will not happen when customers visit “JD’s”. You are a friend when you visit. Maybe I am unrealistic in my “PollyAnna” thoughts. But, making someone feel special, and helping to bring joy and happiness into their home, is important to me.

Well, below is my first VLOG post. I would love it, if you would come along the journey with me. Be sure to subscribe to my channel, for more videos to come.

Thank you.

https://youtu.be/vcIbTnFNvVw

Living Room Wall Decor Ideas

February 5, 2016 Jennifer Davenport Leave a Comment

Sometimes coming up with living room wall decor ideas can be challenging. There are windows, fireplaces, and entryways to work with. Some living rooms have extra high ceilings, so how do you fill that space correctly?

Today, I would love to share with you some of my simple steps to choosing living room wall decor ideas that not only will fit your style, but will fit your space beautifully.

Decorating a Fireplace Mantel

The living room’s focal point is usually the fireplace. When beginning to decorate with wall decor I like to begin with the focal point. I realize you may not have a fireplace, but for those of you who do have one, let’s begin here.

One of the most common problems is deciding whether you want a television above your mantel, or in another part of the room. This becomes a problem because then there are two focal points. What makes this become a problem is deciding how you arrange your seating. Which focal point do you have your seating face?

To keep both focal points in one area, mounting the television above your mantel a great solution. But, you may hate the idea of how ascetically unpleasing it is to see a television above the mantel. A great solutions is to have a special cabinet to house your television when not viewing. Then that built-in can become a great piece of wall art decor.

Fabulous Ideas for Hiding a Television!

I saw this television cabinet in a home in Nashville. What a completely brilliant idea! This cabinet is mirrored with antique mirrors, and opens in the middle. It creates dual function! Not only is it beautiful, but it hides the television when not in use! I love it!

Choosing the Right Fireplace Decor

Before:

This rock fireplace is beautiful, but the pine mantel didn’t add much to the detail. I painted the fireplace mantel black, and purchased a new fireplace screen, and accessories.

After:

The gold fireplace screen really pops off the rock fireplace. The two large vases add even more beautiful details to the fireplace. Don’t be afraid to use larger items on the hearth.

Large Living Room Wall Decor Ideas

If you have a large wall in your living room, choosing large wall decor is the trick. You don’t want to minimize your wall, you want to maximize it!

Not only is the large wall decor perfect for the space, take a look at the long drapes. I hung them higher than the window to also take advantage of the large wall.

Mirror Mirror, on the Wall

I have a mirror hanging in every room in my house. They reflect light and and make a room feel and look larger. I found this mirror at Stein Mart.

This mirror hangs in one of my client’s homes. Take a look at her lamps! They actually become part of the wall decor!

A Collage of Pictures

Hanging a collage of pictures fills up a lot of wall space, and is very attractive!

When hanging a collage of pictures you can space the pictures apart, or hang them very close together!

A Bookshelf is a Great Living Room Wall Decor Idea!

You may be saying, “Jennifer, a bookshelf isn’t wall decor”. Maybe it does not hang on the wall, but it takes up wall space, and can be decorated to add beauty and interest to a living room.

This cool bookshelf is from World Market. Love that store!

Decorating Outside the Box

The flea market is one of my favorite places to find unique decorating items. These two old glass windows are hung above my desk in my living room. Remember, living room wall ideas can be unique and different!

A Timeless Idea – A Large Clock

A large clock is a really great idea for a living room wall decor idea! There are many different choices of very cool looking large clocks.

This is a client’s living room I was privileged to decorate. I found a really unique large wood and iron clock. They loved it!

A Collage of Wonderful Memories

Use the same colored mats and frames to keep your collection of photos from looking cluttered and unorganized. For more living room wall decor ideas here is a great post from BHG.

Good luck decorating your living room!

Decorating Ideas for Bedrooms

February 2, 2016 Jennifer Davenport Leave a Comment

Decorating ideas for bedrooms do not have to be complicated, or over-the-top expensive! I would love to show you three of the guest bedrooms we decorated for a lake house. The bedroom is one of my favorite rooms to design. For the lake house, each room was decorated with different colors and designs. Since the rooms are guest rooms, I kept things simple, functional, and comfortable. Each room has a queen bed, two night stands, an occasional chair, along with a few accessories.

My client wanted one room to be a little shabby chic. I found a beautiful, distressed queen headboard and two nightstands. The bedding is such a happy deep coral color. I paired the comforter with gray shams, and a gray and coral throw pillow.

I found two mercury glass lamps with linen shades, and a small white flower arrangement to sit on one night stand.

This is the occasional chair that sits in the corner. I placed a small round table next to the chair with another flower arrangement. And, of course there is plenty of room for a cup of coffee.

Decorating Ideas for Bedrooms – The Blue Room

Here is the guest bedroom that is on the top floor with the best view of the lake! The furniture is dark wood, so to lighten the room, a light blue comforter with white sheets did the trick.

A yellow throw pillow with the definition of “home” sits in front of the shams. A beautiful canvas of the sea was placed above the bed.

Bedroom Number Three

This guest room decor is the “guy” room. I found an awesome metal sign at our local flea market that we hung above the bed. The bedding is a fabulous red, black and gray plaid. Two sweater pillows, and another boat pillow sits in front of the plaid shams. A glass lamp, with a rope inside could not have been a better choice for this room. This room was a bit smaller, so the occasional chair had to be just the right size! The nightstand is wood and metal, and went perfectly with the wood headboard.

Whether you are decorating a guest bedroom, or your own bedroom, keeping the decor simple doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Bedrooms should be a place of retreat from a hectic day. There is nothing better than coming into a clean, neat, and organized bedroom at the end of the day, or, coming in from a day at the lake!

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