Choosing Neutral Art

While I love colorful art, sometimes it's best to go neutral in a room with other vibrant accents. Lately I've been so drawn to dreamy, soft nature-inspired art. I like how it balances and tempers the bright aspects of a room.<br /><br />Art.com asked me and a handful of other design bloggers to share some of <a href="http://www.art.com/me/jenny_komenda/gallery/natural/?vt=gv" target="_blank">my favorites</a> for a gift guide. I broke down some of my choices here by the color of the undertones. You know how I'm always going on about color temperature balance? Well for me that goes for art as well, especially more neutral art.<br /><br />I always like to find color temperature balance in a room. If your walls are a cool gray, with blue undertones, try adding a piece of art with warmer, more brown or yellow undertones.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/BROWN.jpg" /></div><br />Or, if you're renting and your walls are builder's beige, try something with a bit more blue in it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/BLUE.jpg" /></div><br />And true black works with all temperatures and should be mixed in, in healthy doses!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/BLACK.jpg" /></div><br />PS I'm trying to not buy <a href="http://www.art.com/me/jenny_komenda/gallery/natural/?vt=gv" target="_blank">that swan print</a>, but there's a 15% off deal on art.com right now, so I don't think my resolve will last long.<br /><br />PPS How are you guys? Sorry for not posting yesterday - we are nursing some serious colds around here. bleck.

Choosing Neutral Art

While I love colorful art, sometimes it's best to go neutral in a room with other vibrant accents. Lately I've been so drawn to drea...

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Weekend Give Away: Sole Society (3 Pairs!)

It's the weekend! I'm trying to get ready for Thanksgiving (and trying to talk myself out of buying our Christmas tree so soon!). I've been hustlin' in my new pink booties and they are keeping my feet happy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/pinkbooties.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_92161.jpg" /></div><br /><a href="http://9nl.com/mcid/" target="_blank">Sole Society</a> is giving away <i><b>three pairs</b></i> of shoes each to <i><b>three readers</b></i>! Here are some of my favorites:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/FALLSOLESOCIETY.jpg" /></div><br />I'm such a loyal Sole Society fan. Every order I place, I'm pleased with the quality and fit (and the free shipping!!). And lately I'm loving that they have an <a href="http://9nl.com/mcid/" target="_blank">Insider's Picks page</a>, where they ask fashion editors (like <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/05/marlien-rentmeesters-la-home.html" target="_blank">Marlien</a>!) and celebrities (most recently Julianne Hough) to share their favorite pairs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/shoemint2.jpg" /></div><br />Sole Society asked me to choose my current favorites and they'd love to hear yours, too! For the chance to win <b>THREE</b> pairs of beautiful shoes, simply go <a href="http://9nl.com/mcid/" target="_blank">HERE</a>, quickly register and then (hardest of all!) choose your favorite shoes.<br /><br />Three comments will be chosen at random next Friday at midnight. Winners will be emailed. Open to US readers only at this time. Good luck!<br /><br /><i>PS Use the code LGN20 for $20 off your first order! Good through 12/15/12.</i>

Weekend Give Away: Sole Society (3 Pairs!)

It's the weekend! I'm trying to get ready for Thanksgiving (and trying to talk myself out of buying our Christmas tree so soon!). I...

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DIY: Shaker Style Cabinets, Part 2

Hey-o! Look who has finished kitchen cabinets!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/33DSC_0082-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />There really should be a big fat "IN PROGESS" slapped on the bottom of that photo because the space is far from done. Those white appliances are helping to brighten the space I guess, but... they're so -- white. Also, the floors need to get finished (you can see a little sneak peek here of the direction I'm going). I'm still thinking of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/carrara-marble-subway-tiles.html" target="_blank">that marble backsplash</a>. And next spring I'm going to try making my own concrete counters for the sink side. But the good news is I won't be incredibly embarrassed to host Thanksgiving here next week.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0087.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Whereas I would cry if visitors were going to be subjected to this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/before.jpg" /></div><br />So here's the run down on how I finished these! I definitely learned some things along the way...<br /><a name="more"></a>As a reminder, we started out with these heavily grained oak doors. (and here's what I was <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-direction-for-kitchen.html" target="_blank">going for</a>)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_4762copy-1.jpg" /></div><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-fill-heavy-wood-grain.html" target="_blank">I sanded and filled them</a> with grain filler,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_6989-1.jpg" /></div><br />Then <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/diy-shaker-style-cabinet-doors.html" target="_blank">added flat trim</a> moulding to the borders.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_8258-1.jpg" /></div><br />After sanding and wiping the doors down with a microfiber cloth, I sprayed them all with a dark Rustoleum primer. I sprayed the fronts and backs<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_8884.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_8885.jpg" /></div><br />Here's where things got a little experimental. I rolled on the first coat of paint (F&B Down Pipe) with a foam mini roller and that gave me a consistently smooth surface. Then I went back to touch up the inside corners of the moulding with my two-inch angled brush and I got a little cocky. I wanted to see how well I could do fully brushing the final coat. It turned out to be a bad idea. They looked very bad-DIY once everything had dried. I thought I had a steady hand, but I will definitely be sticking with foam rollers from here on out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_8919.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">So I had to sand off all the brush marks.</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9090.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9094.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And after rolling on the third coat I drilled holes for <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-direction-for-kitchen.html" target="_blank">my hardware</a>. I used one of the pulls to make a template using painters tape.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9142.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It made it a really fast process to drill all the holes. I just measured the center, marked it with chalk and then lined up the center mark I had drawn on my tape.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9131.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Made for consistent holes for about 90% of the time. I've used and loved <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CEML1K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000CEML1K&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20">this tool</a> before too (couldn't find it when I was ready to put the pulls on so I improvised with the tape)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9138.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love the way the hardware looks on the gray. </div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0103.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As far as sealing goes, I rubbed on a little furniture paste wax to help protect the finish (per the Farrow and Ball rep's suggestion), but I didn't want to varnish these and ruin the matte finish.</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0079.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The finish is not totally perfect, but it is pretty smooth in person (sorry about the splotchy photos - the new pendants are casting weird shadows). It was a good bit of work refinishing these, but it was broken up over a few weeks, so it felt manageable. Also, I spent less than $100 to do it, which means more room in the budget for other house stuff! Totally worth it. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/33DSC_0107.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0093.jpg" /></div>

DIY: Shaker Style Cabinets, Part 2

Hey-o! Look who has finished kitchen cabinets! There really should be a big fat "IN PROGESS" slapped on the bottom of that photo b...

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Painting Vintage Lighting

We're putting the finishing touches on the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/11/giant-brass-chandelier.html" target="_blank">GIANT chandelier</a> and it's looking really great. I'm in love! As I was spraying the bad brass away, I remembered a pair of scones we used in <a href="http://www.designscouting.com/" target="_blank">Abbey's</a> dining room that I painted out. The paint on the tole was chipped enough that we need to strip down the sconces first. I slathered both with Citrastrip and scraped away the paint as it loosened up. Not a huge chore - it's actually kind of fun detail work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0565.jpg" /></div><br />Then I painted the orange on with a brush since it was too cold to spray the sconces (it was winter when we redid these). The color is one of my favorites - BM Tomato Red. It really pops against her white walls, right? And I love the orange next to the blue in Abbey's landscape.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/ScreenShot2012-09-07at30012PM.png" /></div><br />PS I bought these at the flea market, but there are tons of <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=tole+sconces&_sacat=0&_from=R40" target="_blank">super affordable tole sconces</a> on eBay, just begging to get a coat of bright paint.<br /><br />PPS More of Abbey's apartment:<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/09/making-wall-mural.html" target="_blank">Making a Wall Mural</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/turning-vintage-side-tables-into.html" target="_blank">Turning vintage side tables into benches</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/11/flame-stitch-flor-tiles.html" target="_blank">FLOR tiles in Abbey's Entry</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/04/abbeys-mirror.html" target="_blank">Abbey's Mirror (a DIY idea)</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/03/hungry-prints-and-art-in-kitchen.html" target="_blank">Hungry Prints and Art in the Kitchen</a>

Painting Vintage Lighting

We're putting the finishing touches on the GIANT chandelier and it's looking really great. I'm in love! As I was spraying the b...

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Lonny Feature

The <a href="http://www.lonny.com/magazine/November+2012/exBLL1AV0gR/1" target="_blank">new Lonny</a> was released this weekend and it's a good one! I was excited they asked me to share a few of my favorite things. (Thank you, Lonny friends!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/BloggerStyle.jpg" /></div><br />In related news, I'm crazy-excited that <i>ALL</i> of the <a href="http://www.lonny.com/pictures" target="_blank">Lonny photo archives</a> are now in one easy-to-browse place. The images are sorted by room, which is so genius. Inspiration abounds!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/LONNYDetailsredstoolatopfloralcarpetingct0210ZHKu9l.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/LONNYLivingRoompurplecouchpairedpairvintageO8KVExGqd_Ql.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/LONNYDetailsStackedbooksatopwoodconsoleV0rWM7xmg9Il.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/HallwayWatercolorwallpaperhallwaynOw_A-coVuxl.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/HallwayBlackwhitestripesphotosredframesQxhiGI3Qppel.jpg" /></div>

Lonny Feature

The new Lonny was released this weekend and it's a good one! I was excited they asked me to share a few of my favorite things. (Thank y...

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DIY: Abstract Painted Walls

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9070.jpg" /><br /><i>Are you on instagram? Follow me @jennykomenda</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/07/powder-bath.html" target="_blank">Remember when</a> I was contemplating some fun wall treatments for our powder bath? I thought about wallpapering, doing a faux bois or hand-blocking a pattern, but I wasn't super excited about any of those...</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kw.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've always loved Kelly Wearstler's staircase with it's hand-painted pattern, but I was worried something  this loose would be weird in such a small bathroom. </div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/Wearstler-tmagSF.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I saw this image, I really liked the idea of using oval or circular shapes.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/kw7.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then I was looking at <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/domesticate" target="_blank">Domesticate's</a> Spoonflower offerings, and <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/585709" target="_blank">this fabric pattern</a> jumped out at me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/ScreenShot2012-11-11at114452AM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got excited because I knew I could get this pattern up in only a couple hours, so right away I pulled out <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/05/mint-green-step-stool.html" target="_blank">my mint paint</a> and a 1" square tipped artists brush, took down the art I had hung before, and was ready to go. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0078.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9041.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The basic idea is super easy. In general, I did one large shape for every small or medium sized shape. There's no right or wrong way to do it - really it's just like doodling on the wall. It took about two or three hours to cover all the walls and the ceiling.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9052.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The mint paint I had was gloss, which I think looks really pretty against the satin walls. Gives a little dimension.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One important trick is the dip your brush only every three shapes or so, so there is some variation in the color opacity. This way it looks a little more like water color.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_9048.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Since the ceiling of the bathroom is dropped and slanted, I went ahead and painted everything.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0136.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center>     </center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0125.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Once the paint had dried, I hung a bunch of vintage landscapes on the wall. I like how the super traditional paintings look on the funky walls.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0118.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Most of these paintings were ones I picked up at flea markets when we lived in Brussels for two or three Euros each. They aren't masterpieces, but I love them.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0135.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I need to take a photo during the day, but I'm so happy with the way the powder bath looks from the hallway with the door open. It really looks like wallpaper.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0114.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I know - it's kind of intense, but I'm loving it! Plus, it would be super easy to paint out or change if I get sick of the look.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2DSC_0097.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Can't beat a project that makes a big statement, costs nothing and only takes a couple hours!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0157.jpg" /></div>

DIY: Abstract Painted Walls

Are you on instagram? Follow me @jennykomenda Remember when I was contemplating some fun wall treatments for our powder bath? I thought abo...

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