Gray is one of the hottest trends, so of course you want to add this elegant yet natural color to your home. However, what do you do with the brown leather sofa you’ve invested in, and there is no way it’s leaving? Ahhh..the gray and chocolate dilemma.
But is it really a dilemma? Gray and chocolate is a color combination seen in nature. Think of the black sand beaches or the trunks of maple trees. If creation has this color combo, then why are we so culturally worried about combining the two? No worries! Thanks to today’s trends and products available, it is quite okay to combine the two colors which we were once forced to choose between. When combining the two, keep the following in mind:
Choose One Dominant Color
It’s a good idea to choose one dominant color, in this case, gray or brown. Allow the dominant color to be in ⅔ of the room while the secondary color is in the remaining ⅓ of the room.
Photo: Pinterest
Keep a Consistent Undertone
Not all grays have the same undertone. There may be a brown, olive or purple hue to the gray. It’s important to keep the undertones in your grays consistent as well.
Brown and gray hues from Benjamin Moore
Pull It All Together
Choose 3 to 5 key items to pull the color scheme together. Throw pillows, lamps, rugs, ottomans and small accents are all easy ways to create harmony.
Moxii's Tia Throw in chocolate is a great addition to a couch or chair.
Moxii's Charcoal Vivacious Hook Rug combines both gray and chocolate in its design.
Stick with Your Style
Most of us have settled into a design style we feel represents who we are as a person. Don’t compromise your style when combining gray and brown or any color scheme for that matter. Stick to who you are and the style you appreciate. Keep in mind you will see the perfect shade of gray accessory, but this doesn’t mean that lamp is the perfect fit for your space.
Use various shades of chocolate accents within your style against a gray backdrop.
Photo: Decor Pad
Structured and striking, each piece works well together.
Photo: Pinterest
by Katherine Bailey
Katherine is a licensed interior designer and co-founder of moxii. Her style tips can be found here on the moxii blog and B Metro magazine blog. She and her team offer their design services all over the Southeast.
With preparation of college in full swing, there’s nothing more fitting than talking with the one who founded the go-to source for “things every college girl should know.” From tips on writing a resume to style and beauty, EveryCollegeGirl.com will quickly be a part of your daily reads.
So without further ado, meet Kaleigh Rogers, founder and editor.
Q: When did you start EveryCollegeGirl.com?
A: I started Every College Girl on January 1, 2010, actually, which makes it very easy to track exactly how old the site is:)
Q: What was the inspiration behind starting it?
A: It’s a strange story, really. I’d been wanting to start a blog for awhile, but every idea I had was basically already covered. My boyfriend and I are long distance; so I was in the book store one day looking for a gift to send him in the mail and found a book called “Things Every Man Should Know” with instructions on changing a tire and mixing a martini. I thought to myself, this is what is missing for college girls! And the idea came from there.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with EveryCollegeGirl?
A: I love providing a resource for college girls, like myself. I know I read a lot of blogs out there and generally use their information to improve my wardrobe, style, schoolwork, and just my life overall. If I can be helping other girls in any area of their life, then I’ve done my job.
Q: You’re still in college yourself, will this site be something that you continue after?
A: I absolutely want to continue this beyond college, maybe even making a career out of it. Of course, I’d have to have lots of connections with writers who are still in college in order to keep the content current and relatable. No one wants advice on being in college from someone who graduated 10 years ago.
Q: What style tips do you live by as a college student?
A: Make every day a reason to dress up. You have your whole life to lounge around in sweatpants, why not take advantage of your youth and make an effort every day to look your best. Plus, you never know who could be watching, and with street style blogs popping up all over the place now, you might actually get props once in awhile!
Q: How do you keep a balance with school, your social life & the website?
A: It’s tough but, to be honest, I can only do it because I love it. I love to write, and I love the daily grind of editing the site and keeping things running. The rewards I get from girls actually reading and participating on the site far outweigh a couple lost hours of sleep 
Q: For those aspiring journalists and writers, what’s your advice to others who want to start an online publication like yours?
A: Just do it! Even if you only have 1 reader a day, getting your ideas out there is so important. If the content is really good, the readers will come. If nothing else, you’ll end up with a nice portfolio to show potential employers.
For those entering college for the first time, you are probably already preparing for your dorm space. We understand the importance of style in a room. After all, having a space that reflects your personality is what makes it a welcoming new home.
But what’s a room without functionality? One of the most important aspects of making this small space comfortable is how you organize it.
Below are moxii’s must-haves for any dorm room:
1. Bed Risers & Bed Skirt- Bed risers allow for ample space to store items. They will give you at least 24 inches of extra space. Place storage bins underneath and use an extra-long bed skirt between 24 and 30 inches in length to hide risers and storage containers.
View moxii’s bed skirts here for an array of colors and styles.
2. Under the Bed Storage Containers - There are many options for storage bins. Look for practical ones rather than stylish. They will not be seen, so opt for storage containers which are clear and serve as a drawer. This will allow you to see what you have and remove items easily. These storage containers from Walmart are affordable and practical.
3. Desk Hutch- Our custom desk hutch allows for empty space above the desk to be better utilized. It rests easily on your desk and provides space for all your school books and picture frames. Call 1-888-mymoxii for more details.
4. Over the Bed Shelving- The over the bed shelving helps hide those ugly cinder block walls and allows for even more space to utilize- great for a lamp and alarm clock. Call 1-888-mymoxii for more details.
5. Closet Containers- There’s nothing worse than a messy closet. Instead of tossing your shoes to the bottom, use a shoe organizer that hangs on the door. For smaller articles like socks and scarves, place them in a container like this one at the top of the closet.
6. Floor Covering- Decorative rugs, carpet squares, or bound carpets make an eye-catching focal point and bring warmth to cold, dorm flooring. Moxii has a variety of colors, patterns, and styles of rugs. Choose our cotton woven rugs from Dash and Albert for a soft feel. They are easy to clean; just toss in the washing machine.
See our selection of rugs here.
7. Bedding Essentials- Moxii’s team of experts suggest a mattress pad, allergen mattress protector and egg crate or feather topper for the bed. Although this seems like a lot of layers, they are essential for a comfortable night’s rest on the mattresses provided in the dorm.
Click here for our bedding essentials.
8. Stylish Laundry Bag- Our one-of-a-kind laundry bags are an essential for the stylish girl. Hang on the end of your bed to help hide the bed risers or on your closet door. Not only is it one of our most functional pieces but the most unique and stylish.
See all of our laundry bags here.
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- Under the bed storage & risers
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- Desk Hutch
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- Over the Bed Shelving
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- Durable yet stylish area rug
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- Birdcage Card Holder
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- Spring Blossum Laundry Bag
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- Bedding Essentials
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- Maximizing Closet Space
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Wedding season is in full swing. And for your wedding, there’s no better way to put a smile on your face and your guests than with these photo booth prop ideas.
Below are our favorite ideas from Etsy that will add a little whimsy and vintage fun!
Sarah Q Happy Booths shop:
Hang this near your booth to let guests know it’s time for their close up.
Let your guests play dress up with these super cute glasses on a stick!
Little Retreats shop:
Show the world you’re the perfect match with this perfect Mr. and Mrs. pair.
Maro Designs shop:
Customize this thought bubble to say whatever is bobbling in your head!
Rainy Day Story shop:
Play up your attire with a colorful, faux tie bow!
Perfectionate shop:
And we couldn’t forget the popular mustaches!
These fun ideas will add personality to your photos and will have you smiling every time you see them. Try your hand at making a few or purchase them on Etsy where the most creative handmade items are found.
One of the most interesting and popular DIY projects we have featured is the coffee bag headboard. Coffee bean bags and burlap are all the rage right now. But for those who want a more feminine look, we have another project that can be used as either a memo/inspiration board or headboard.
Currently, moxii’s interior designer, Katherine Bailey, has both! She recently finished this project for both her work area in the design studio and headboard for her master bedroom.
Here are the steps below:
Materials:
- Foam Board
- Staple Gun
- Painter’s Canvas
- Crochet fabric
- Picture Wire and Hangers
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- Neatly fold canvas, securing it with staples
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- Measure the length of the crochet fabric
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- Stretch crochet across board
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- Cover the entire board with the tightly stretched crochet
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- Secure crochet with staples
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- Katherine’s inspiration board in the moxii design studio
Instructions:
- Cut the foam board the length you desire.
- Lay the canvas over the foam board, making sure that it covers the entire board and can be wrapped around it to be stapled. Cut any excess fabric.
- Smooth out the canvas and start first at one side of the canvas, stapling it into the board
- Be sure to neatly fold the edges of the canvas. Securing it with your hand, staple the fold. Staple rest of sides.
- Stretch the crochet fabric over the board, making sure that it wraps around the board. Cut any excess fabric.
- Staples edges of crochet into board; also neatly folding the corners and securing them with staples
- Now secure wire onto back of board for hanging. See video tutorial here.
So, you’ve decided that it’s time to take control of your life and get organized. But do you know the first steps to get started?
I’m sure you think that the first thing I’m going to tell you to do is to start chunking or tossing items out the door. But you’re wrong. Organizing is not the act of throwing things away. Organizing is the act of creating a system to effectively and efficiently manage the items you own. On the flip side, de-cluttering is the act of chunking and tossing items. So, with that being said, what are the first steps to getting organized?
1. Determine your organization style. Decide if you like things organized and concealed or organized and set out on display. Do you like things labeled or do you like having a master list to cross-reference where things are located? By identifying your organizational style up front, you reduce the amount of time it takes to plan your organizing project.
2. Determine where to start your organizing project. To avoid becoming overwhelmed or frustrated early on in a huge project, start with a small room or a small section of a larger room. Some good ideas would be to start with your kitchen pantry, linen closet, or bathroom cabinet. A huge organizing project, like the garage, can be daunting. Opt for taking baby steps towards reaching your goal to become organized.
3. Determine what is required in that space. What items do you use more frequently and what items can be tucked away for infrequent access and retrieval? Obviously, you don’t want to have to dig to find items you use on a regular basis. Make sure you have everything required for the everyday operations of your household. If something is missing, now is the time to add it. For example, if you always have to grab something from the utility room every time you do laundry chances are your laundry room is missing a key requirement to complete the task.
4. Have fun getting organized. Create a system to effectively and efficiently manage the items you have in that space. If some items belong in another space, move them appropriately. But don’t get side tracked. Return back to your current project so that you can finish it before you move on to another. Think about tying an imaginary ribbon around your completed project before you start the next one. One organizing project will probably lead to another, so get ready.
Once you know the first steps to getting started, finishing will become second nature. Getting organized is a lot easier when you know your organization style. Pick a small space in your home and determine what is required. Take a small baby step and start your first organizing project. Before you know it, you will be heading towards a future of having a more organized life.
By Leslie Kate Thornton
Follow Leslie on Twitter and visit Staging Designs website here.
Leslie Kate Thornton is a real estate staging expert and professional organizer, and is the owner of STAGING DESIGNS based in Birmingham, Alabama. Leslie holds a B.S. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has extensive consulting and project management experience. Leslie is passionate about transforming properties to make lasting, first impressions. She is the master of clutter and infuses eco-friendly ideas into each property.
In our last post, we shared with you various Valentine’s projects that we found while scouring Etsy.com. We chose to do the Garland o’ Hearts.
Here’s how we created it by using materials that we already had at home.
Materials
* You will need hard stock paper, so use magazines from recycled paper (or any other material that bends and keeps its shape).
Directions
1. Cut strips of hard stock paper of the same size.
2. Punch a small hole at the top of a strip, looping a piece of yarn through it. This will serve as the stem of the heart.
3. Choose two strips of paper for the outer body of your heart. We chose the most colorful ones because these are the pieces that are most seen. Staple these pieces at the top of the stem, leaving just enough room at the top for the loop.
4. Use 3 more strips on each side varying in lengths to create a layered look. You will need to cut these strips to make them shorter than the one above it. Staple the two matching strips at the top and then staple all 4 at the bottom. This will make it look less messy rather than stapling at the bottom for each strip.
5. Repeat these steps to make as many as you’d like. We made 5. (An odd number tends to look the best.)
6. Using a long piece of yarn, stagger the hearts on the string and secure them by tying the loop onto the string.
7. Using push pins or nails, you can now hang your Garland o’ Hearts.
The Super Bowl everyone anxiously awaits is just a couple of days away. Most of you are going to a friend’s house to watch the game and some of you are hosting your own viewing party.
But what’s a football game without good food? Shawna of Styleberry Blog let us steal her recipe for these Ranch Burger Sliders. And as she puts it, “Who doesn’t love a good burger?”
Ranch Burger Sliders
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (for half the serving, use 1 lb.)
- 1 (1 oz.) package of ranch dressing
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers (or 2 slices of whole wheat crumbled bread)
- 1 chopped onion (half if using 1 lb. of beef)
Preparation:
- Preheat the grill for high heat.
- In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, crushed crackers and onion. Form into hamburger patties.
- Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the patties on the grill, and cook 5 minutes per side or until well done.
Ingredients on the left. We love Alexia Fries. These counted as our veggie for dinner. For the sliders, I bought whole wheat dinner rolls from the bakery at Target. I whisked the egg and ranch together before adding the meat and onion.
Don’t over mix the meat, but form into flat patties, size of your choice. You can always make these big or small. I did small just for fun this time.
Be sure to spray BEFORE you heat the grill.
I don’t like super melted cheese on my burgers, so I sprinkle it on after I pull them off the grill. It melts to the perfect texture, even away from the heat!
For Shawna’s Freezing and Big Batch Cooking tips, click here.
Also, check out how she used one of moxii’s shower curtains to transform her bathroom here.
After seeing Stephanie Drake’s chair transformations, I’m sure you wondered how she finds such treasures. After all, scouring thrift stores can sometimes be daunting. But somehow she is able to find treasures among all of the junk. But how does she do it?
Well, we asked her! You’re welcome.
Below are Stephanie’s 7 Tips for Treasure Hunting:
1. Keep an open mind. There may be a stigma associated with shopping in second-hand stores like Goodwill, America’s Thrift, Salvation Army, etc. The fact of the matter is, people just like you and me donate really great stuff all the time. Either we outgrow it, downsize, or just get sick, we get tired of perfectly good items and send them on their way. With an open mind, these shops can be goldmines. Not to mention, you are indirectly helping those in need with your purchases and RECYCLING!
2. Don’t be afraid to mix NEW with OLD. The trick to decorating any space is not to get stuck trying to conform to a particular style or theme. If you see something that strikes you, any item you are immediately drawn to, grab it. You will always find connections that make your thrifted items cohesive within your home.
3. Thrifting furniture is about the BONES. When looking for vintage sofas, tables, or chairs, try not to get too caught up in cosmetics. The current color or fabric can be changed. It’s the underlying structure you are interested in, so you’ll want to make sure it’s sound. It may take a few coats of paint, reupholstering, or maybe both, but you can score an awesome deal on a piece with potential and have money left over to make it look exactly how you want. (Check out my chair makeovers here).
4. Instant Collections. If you want to create instant, mini collections, thrift stores are perfect. Ball jars, milk glass, depression glass, tea cups, candle sticks, etc. are abundant in these sorts of stores and look great in groups. You can start a decent sized collection or grouping without breaking the bank.
5. Go Forth + Go Often. Since thrift stores literally accept donations daily, you will find a constantly changing inventory. Find out what days your local thrift stores restock shelves then show up early for the greatest selection. Go as often as you can. You are competing with all sorts of Ebay resellers and Antique Roadshow types for the best stuff, so the more you go, the better your chances of finding a diamond in the rough.
6. Know the Sales. Yes, the thrifty shopper can be even thriftier! Most second-hand stores have special days where they offer their wares for up to 75% off the ticketed price! Check with your local thrift stores to find out the extra savings days. Remember to show up early, the better the deals, the more people you will have to fight off to get to your treasures!
7. Have Fun! Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find something amazing every time you go thrifting. See Tip # 5. Remember that half the fun of thrifting is the hunt and the story you get to tell after you’ve uncovered a great find!
by Stephanie Drake – owner and event stylist of Proper Measures
Visit her website here.