A Pop of Pink

Courtesy of Chelsea Faulkner

Hi Friends,

Pastels are the hottest color trend of the year, and we're seeing them in a whole new way. Say goodbye to those baby-doll hues you once knew. When paired with neon accents and bold colors, soft pastels are a fresh and trendy way to make a statement in any space.

Pistachio-colored wallpaper paired with punches of hot pink, ballet pink, fuchsia and lemon yellow make this nursery fun yet sophisticated. But this color combo isn't just for babes. Switch out the crib for a bed and you'll have a stylish room any grownup would envy.

Happy Spring decorating...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tom's Mellow Melon Margarita

Compliments of Liz Gray
Stephen Murello, Scripps Networks, LLC
Recipe by Stephen Phillips

Hi Friends,

Cool down on a hot day with this fruity, ice-cold margarita.

Essential qualities: Margaritas can be delicious, but they usually aren’t. That’s because margarita mix is, well, just not very good. Fix that with this simple cocktail recipe: Just mix together high-quality silver tequila, lime juice, agave nectar and a seasonal twist — cubes of juicy watermelon. Repeat after me: I no longer need margarita mix. Putting it down. Now.

Serve it with: This summery drink pairs well with farm-fresh produce — think corn on the cob or roasted pepper and mozzarella bites.

Get the Recipe: Tom's Mellow Melon Margarita

Ingredients:
1-1/2 ounces Patron Silver tequila
1 ounces fresh lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 ounces orange juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar
5 watermelon cubes
1 small watermelon wedge

Preparation:
Muddle the watermelon cubes in the bottom of a shaker glass. Add ice, Patron, lime juice, orange juice and agave syrup. Give it a good shake for approximately 10 seconds. Strain and pour into large rocks glass. Garnish with a watermelon wedge.

Cheers...

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Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Turn Solar Lights Into an Outdoor Table Centerpiece

Courtesy of Thrifty and Chic/Hometalk Highlights

Hi Friends,

Problems with getting better lighting out on my patio. Candles melt...batteries have to be replaced on outdoor candles...so, next the next option on the list was not surprising; solar lights. Here's what Alicia with Thrifty & Chic did to make them pop!

Cost: $5

Before: Boring ol' solar lights.

Take these boring solar lights that can be found for under $1, remove the bottom portion of them, then unscrewed the top black piece from the clear part and spray painted them. Used some painter's tape on the solar part to ensure no paint gets onto it.


Placing the lights in a block of wood added pop and the much needed light.

Find some old wood, paint them, and drill some holes into the top with a drill bit that was the same size as the light stem.

Place the lights in the wood and voila! A great way to add some light and decor to any porch or patio.

Enjoy the Alfresco life...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Turn an Old Door into a Coat Rack

Courtesy of HGTV

Hi Friends,

A salvaged door, fabric and small mirrors come together to create a stylish foyer fixture.

Tools and Materials:

• an old recessed-panel door
• fabric
• small square mirrors (multiple sizes)
• coat hooks
• heavy-duty spray adhesive
• paint
• utility knife and 2” putty knife
• drill
• glue gun
• tape measure

Steps:

1. Lay the door on a flat surface. Cut the fabric two inches larger than the recessed panel of the door.
2. Apply spray glue to the underside of the fabric and lay it on the recessed panel, smoothing it out as you go, Use the putty knife to tuck the fabric into the edges. HCCAN413-Glueing-Mirrors
3. When the glue has dried, use the utility knife to cut off the excess fabric.
4. Layout a pattern with your mirrors. Once you have it exactly how you’d like, use the hot glue gun to attach the mirrors onto the fabric.
5. Determine how many coat hooks to put on the door and their placement. Use a 1/2” drill bit to pre-drill holes then screw the hooks into the pre-drilled holes.
6. Hang the coat rack on the wall using materials appropriate for your wall.

The salvaged door adds architectural interest to this home’s entry and provides a handy place to hang a bag or coat.

Get your creative juices flowing and share some of those ideas with us too; look forward to hearing from you...

Check back for more great decorating, cooking and budget options from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Frozen Mint Julep Cocktail Recipe

Compliments of Liz Gray
Recipe by Stephen Phillips

Hi Friends,

Frozen Mint Julep is the perfect Southern way to celebrate and cool off this summer.

Essential qualities: If you have ever tried to grow mint, you know the biggest dilemma isn’t keeping it alive, it’s keeping it from choking out the rest of your garden. Keep it at bay (and keep your guests cool) with this slushy take on a classic Southern cocktail.

Serve it with: Barbecue, grilled lamb or vegetables and pretty much any dish hailing from the South.

Get the Recipe: Frozen Mint Julep Cocktail

Ingredients:
3 oz. Makers Mark, Heaven Hill or Knob Creek bourbon whiskey
1-1/2 tsp. simple syrup
1-1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
8 fresh mint leaves
3/4 cup crushed ice
1 sprig of mint for garnish

Preparation:
Place mint leaves, bourbon, simple syrup and lemon juice at the bottm of a glass. Muddle (mash) the mint with the liquids until blended together. Pour this mixture into the blender. Add 3/4 cup of crushed ice and blend until slushy.

Pour into a chilled, large old-fashioned glass or large goblet.

For your next summer party, upgrade from plastic coolers and drink mixes to this custom cocktail that is easy to make and even easier to enjoy...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

$10 Drop Cloth Curtains

Courtesy of Laura Lei, The Unique Nest

Hi Friends,

One of the greatest parts of the home is this amazing front porch. A large opening porch space to relax and unwind is perfect for those spring and summer days. However, the sun can become so intense that it makes it difficult to sit out. If you don't have the budget for large custom roll shades or the maintenance and installation costs then this is the answer.

Traditionally used for painting, drop cloths are the alternative to expensive Pottery Barn style outdoor curtains.



Purchase four 6'x9' drop cloths and all the necessary mounting hardware. Here's what you need...

1. One drop cloth per end of your curtain rod. Each cloth cost about $10.



2. Support brackets to hold up the copper piping used to create a custom and unique rod or opt to purchase ready-made rods complete with hardware.



3. To make hanging these outdoor curtains a cinch purchase clip rings in an aged bronze finish, as you see here or finish best for your decor. These will also come in handy should you ever need to wash the drop cloths, but for the price it might be cheaper and easier to just purchase a new drop.



4. Two 10' sections of 3/4" copper pipe which will become your custom curtain rod or the feet needed for your space. Copper pipes are available in longer pieces and a lot of stores will trim the pipe to your desired length.



A great project to take on when you're not looking for hard work, just major impact.



THE RESULT




Love the way these turned out! It is a really easy project and adds quite a bit of curb appeal...



Hope you enjoyed the post and thanks for stopping by...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Coastal Citrus Punch

Compliments of Liz Gray
Recipe compliments of Matthew Mead

Hi Friends,

There’s something about hot weather that makes an icy beverage seem not only nice but practically essential, don’t you think? For your next summer party, upgrade from plastic coolers and drink mixes to custom cocktails that are easy to make and even easier to enjoy.

Essential qualities: This summery take on sangria makes enough for a crowd, so you won’t be running up and down the hill playing bartender all day. Mix up the day before your party, chill and serve on ice. It’s easy to double if you anticipate extreme thirst…or more than 8-10 guests.

Make it your own: The recipe calls for grapes, pineapple and strawberries, but try throwing in blueberries, peaches or honeydew melon.

Serve it with: Grilled fish, a summer clambake, tea sandwiches — this drink is incredibly versatile.

Coastal Citrus Punch Recipe

Ingredients
2 medium lemons, sliced thin
3 oranges, sliced thin
1 lime, sliced thin
1 dozen green grapes cut in half
3 750-ml bottles off-dry white Riesling wine, chilled
2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
1 cup simple syrup (bottled)
1 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed and chilled, 4 to 5 lemons
3 cups white grape juice
3 cups pineapple juice, chilled
4 cups sparkling water, chilled

Instructions
Juice the lemons and oranges. Strain the juice.

At least 3 hours and up to 6 hours before serving, combine the syrup, lemon juice, grape juice, pineapple juice, wine and strawberries in a large bowl or pot. Chill in the refrigerator.

Just before serving, pour the punch into a large chilled punch bowl or glass bottle. Add the sparkling water and gently stir.

Serve punch over ice with additional cut fruit.

Share some of your summer cocktail options with us too; look forward to hearing from you...

Cheers!

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design.

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne