More and more homes are including a butler’s pantry in their design. Historically, butler’s pantries were a place to store dishes and were used to prepare meals before they were served (often by the butler!) in the dining room. Today, a butler’s pantry might have a sink and a dishwasher in it, lots of shelving and counter space, and deep drawers for storage. If you like to entertain, a butler’s pantry will allow you to hide dirty plates and dishes from your guests, as well as give you room to leave out any dishes or food you need quick access to.

Even if you don’t entertain, a butler’s pantry is a great place to store awkward shaped appliances and platters that may not easily fit in your kitchen, and if you grocery shop in bulk, a walk in pantry is exactly what you need! Here are some amazing pantries for inspiration. 

via Deborah Loves

via Home Adore

via Country Living

via Home Bunch

via Blair Harris

What do you think? Could you use a butler's pantry in your home? 

Have you ever gone to the store to pick out sheets and wondered if the sheet thread count actually meant anything? Is it just a clever ruse to get you to spend more money than you normally would? Or is thread count the key to crisp, cool sheets?  

The truth is that sheet thread count doesn’t actually mean much. Before we get into why you shouldn’t buy sheets based on the thread count, you should probably know what we’re talking about. Thread count is the number of threads horizontally and vertically per square inch of fabric. For the most part, higher thread count will give you better quality fabric that is softer and more durable. Manufacturers have figured out ways to claim thread count into the thousands, but a good rule of thumb is to never buy anything below 200 and to figure that anything over 800 won’t really make a difference.

Regardless of how high the thread count of your new sheets, the key thing to remember is that the thread count doesn’t actually represent the quality of your sheets. If you’re looking for high-quality bedding, focus on what your sheets are made of. Fabric made up of long fibers, such as Egyptian cotton, organic cotton, cotton-poplin, or bamboo, will last much longer and stay nicer longer than other options.  

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that when it comes to sheets, what you end up paying will make a difference in quality. No matter the sheet thread count, if your sheet is made of cheap material they won’t be as soft or durable as a more expensive brand might be.

If you’re renting, you know that coming up with apartment decorating ideas can be tricky. Beige walls with carpet the same color, harsh overhead lighting, and odd sized rooms can make creating your ideal living space difficult, to say the least. Especially if you’re on a budget and aren’t willing to put a lot of money into a temporary home. Fortunately, we have some great apartment decorating ideas and tips to help make your home exactly how you want it! 

via The Contemporist

If you have a funny shaped room or are living in a studio apartment, use a room divider to break up your space. Not only will your room make more sense, a room divider will make your room visually more interesting. Something like this screen or this bookshelf would make an awesome divider. 

via The Everygirl

Bring in the lamps! Overhead lights often provide harsh lighting, so use lamps to give your room a cozy feel. I would love this, this, or this in my living room!

via The Glitter Guide

Put rugs on your floors! Whether you’re covering up stained tile, scratched wood, or dingy carpet, rugs will make your home feel clean, cozy, and bright. 

via Love Grows Wild

If you aren’t able to purchase a new couch but are ready for an upgrade, think about using a slipcover. A slipcover will fit over your old couch and make it look like a completely new piece of furniture! For ideas on how to make your own slipcover, look here.

via Elle Decoration

Hang art in your apartment as soon as you possibly can. Nothing will make your apartment look more bare or unlived in than completely bare walls. It doesn’t matter if you are planning on only living in the apartment temporarily - hang that art! It will make all the difference in the world. There’s lots of affordable art available if you look, or you could make your own!

Let us know what you’ve done to make your apartment feel like home! Do you have any apartment decorating ideas?

 
Did you know that one of the top breeding grounds for bacteria in your bathroom is actually on your makeup brushes?  Yikes, right?  It's true though.  Think about all of the makeup, dead skin cells, oil and dirt that accumulates in the bristles, making it prime real estate for germs.  How often are you washing your brushes?  Experts sugest that you should thoroughly clean them at least once a month.  I hate taking the time to do it, but I'm always really glad I did because clean brushes feel heavenly on your face!  Not sure how to clean them properly?  Look no further...

Here's what you'll need:

1. A bowl of lukewarm water
Make sure you don't get the water too hot, as heat can break up the glue and destroy your brushes.

2. Soap
In the past I have always used a gentle baby shampoo, but recently I read that using an antibacterial dish soap is better becuase it's more effective in eliminating all of the germs.  Add a squirt of olive oil (I did 2 parts soap to 1 part olive oil), which will help to seal in moisture and smooth the brush hair.

3. Paper towels or a hand towel for drying

Here's what to do:

1. Collect all of your makeup brushes that need to be cleaned.  Gross!  Look how dirty mine look!

2. Fill a bowl with luke warm water and add your soap and olive oil and swirl it around to get it nice and sudsy.  

3. Take a brush, and begin by running the bristles under warm water from your faucet to clean off most of the loose makup.

4. Next, hold your brush directly over the soapy water and stir it around.  Use your fingers to gently massage all of the bristles. Be careful not to submerge the brush completely under the water, as it can ruin the glue holding the bristles together.

5. Rinse off the brush again in lukewarm water to remove all of the soap.

6. Lay on a towel and allow several hours to dry.

Don't these look better?
 

 You guys!  Check out the dirty remnant water after I was done cleaning!  Isn't that disgusting?

Moral of the story: Run, don't walk, and go clean your makeup brushes! 

Knowing how to hang curtains makes a huge difference in the overall look and feel of your home. Hanging curtains can be tricky. Without meaning to, you may end up with window coverings that look just a little bit...wrong. If you don’t know how much fabric to use, where to hang the curtain rod, or what fabric to use the overall effect can be ruined. Whether you've bought your curtains or are planning on making them yourself, with these tips and hints, you’ll know how to hang curtains like a pro! 

via Simple Nature Decor

Make sure your curtain rod is longer than your window. If your curtain rod is the exact length of the window your curtains will cover the window, making it look smaller and blocking your view. With a rod that is a couple of inches longer on either end of the window, your curtain will be able to hang on either side of the window frame. Not only will this open up the whole view from your window, the window will look bigger too!

via Glitter Guide

Raise up your curtain rod so it is about 4-6 inches higher than the top of the window frame. Placing the curtain rod nearer the ceiling will make the window look taller and your ceilings feel higher.

via Elle Decor

Think about the mood and feel you want your room to have. The fabric you pick will make a big difference. Light and flowy fabric will make your room feel brighter and will have a very different feel from the formal effect dark, heavy curtains will give a room.

via Crazy Wonderful

When hanging curtains you want to make sure you have used enough fabric that you’ve covered the windows and it doesn’t look skimpy.  A good rule of thumb is to use fabric that is 2 - 2.5 times the width of the window. This will make your curtains look full without being too crowded.

via The Design Chaser

The length you cut your curtains makes a big difference as well. Your fabric should go to the floor - don’t cut it too short! Ideally, your curtain should brush the floor, but you can have the fabric float a bit above the carpet if you’re having a hard time getting the exact measurements. If you like the “puddle” look where your curtains are cut long enough to lay on the floor, make sure you have left enough fabric to make your choice look intentional.

I love this post by Emily Henderson on how to hang curtains. If you want a quick glimpse on how to hang curtains correctly check out this image below from her website.

via Emily Henderson

Good luck hanging curtains! Do you have any tips or ideas on how to hang curtains that have worked for you?

Trying to find some good living room paint ideas can be hard. If you’re like me, you have a hard time picking paint colors in general. I’m always unsure that the paint color I’ve picked will match my furniture, that it’ll look good in the day and the night, that it won’t look too purple or too blue or too brown, that I won’t get tired of it...let’s just say it’s a long process for me to finally land on one I like. If you’re looking for some living room paint ideas, I’ve found five colors that I think would look great. 

via House of Turquoise

Get the look! Nantucket Fog from Benjamin Moore

via The Weathered Fox

Get the look! Antique Rose from Magnolia

via Kylie M. Interiors

Get the look! Lenox Tan from Benjamin Moore

via Trulia

Get the look! Swirling Smoke from PPG Porter Paints

via The Columbian

Get the look! Straw from Benjamin Moore

I've always ended up going back to gray paint colors in my home, but I love some of these subtle colors! What living room paint ideas do you have? 

Planting different types of herbs in your garden is the perfect way to keep your kitchen well stocked. I have the perfect spot to put a raised planter box and am planning on starting an herb garden soon. There is nothing like walking out to your garden whenever you need some herbs for your dinner and having them fresh and waiting for you. If you’re interested in putting together your own herb garden, here are seven different types of herbs you might want to consider planting. 

via Off Beat Home and Life

SWEET BASIL

This is a very common herb that tastes delicious in almost anything! Make sure you plant your basil in a sunny spot and make sure you keep it well watered. Basil will flower, but be sure to remove any flower buds as soon as you see them to keep the basil leaves full of flavor. Harvest basil as you use it by pinching off leaves near the stem.  

via The Spruce

CHIVES

Chives are from the same family as onions, leeks, and garlic with a much milder flavor. Using chives in your dips, salads, and soups will add a lot of flavor. This herb can take over your garden if you let it, so make sure you remove flowers before the fade to keep the plant and it’s seed contained. Harvest chives by cutting the leaves about 1” above the soil.

via Bonnie Plants

CILANTRO

Often associated with Mexican or Asian food, cilantro is a great addition to your herb garden. This herb is a two-in-one - the seeds produce are actually coriander while the leaves are cilantro. Harvest the leaves as you need them.

via Country Living

LAVENDER

Lavender needs to have full sun and extremely well-drained soil, so make sure if you are planting this in the ground it is on the top of a slope. This plant produces a beautiful flower and smell. Harvest lavender by cutting the stems just as the flowers start to open, and make sure if you are using it for flavor you use it sparingly - a little goes a long way with this herb!

via Bonnie Plants

MINT

This herb is often planted in its own container as it is invasive and can take over your garden if you aren’t careful. Make sure you remove any flowers that appear on the plant to avoid seeds spreading to areas you don’t want it to be. Harvest mint leaves as needed. The more frequently the stems are cut the more the plant will grow and produce new leaves, which have the best flavor.

via The Spruce

ROSEMARY

With a needle-like appearance similar to a fir tree, rosemary is a large plant that can grow 4-6 feet tall. Harvest rosemary as needed and consider drying some of the needles to be used later.

via Parks Wholesale Plants

SAGE

Sage produces gray-green leaves with a soft texture. This herb needs full sun and well-drained soil and will grow 2-3 feet tall in the right conditions. Harvest the leaves as needed and, just like rosemary, think about drying some of the leaves for later use.

via Bonnie Plants

THYME

Thyme is a popular herb that needs full sun. It’s important to pinch off the tops of stems during the growing season to make sure the plant is growing and staying fresh. Old Thyme can begin to get woody and will not be as good as the young stems.

What are different types of herbs in your garden? Any tips on getting mine to grow?

Did you see my post last month about some of the most popular design trends happening this year?  It turns out, there are so many more that deserve to be talked about!  Just because it's trendy doesn't mean you need to jump on board, but it's still good to be aware and informed, I think.  Here are a handful of trends you need to know about right now....

1. Marble Anything and Everything!

Have you noticed?  Marble is literally everywhere these days!  Marble kitchen and bathroom counters are nothing new, but marble wallpaper??  That was a surprise to me!  I'm still not quite sold on the marble wall idea though.  What do you think?

via pinterest

2. Wood Tile

You've probably seen wood tile around without even realizing that it's tile!  It looks exactly like a beautiful, natural wood floor, but without the high maintenance upkeep!  It resists moisture, is easy to clean, and is a great option for your kitchen, bathroom, or throughout your whole entire house.

little green notebook via pinterest

3. Double Master Bedrooms

In the high end housing market, one of the new trends gaining momentum is building two master bedrooms into one house plan.  I have to admit, I was a little puzzled at first. I mean, I get not being able to sleep if your spouse snores loudly, but building another master bed and bath seemed a little extreme.  However, once I started thinking about it, it might not be a bad option if you have aging parents who can't live on their own anymore, have college-age children coming back and forth from school, or entertain overnight guests often.    

Architectual designs house plans via pinterest

4. Mix of White & Off-White Interiors

All-white rooms have been so popular for the longest time, but let's be real: they aren't very condusive to real life.  They often feel cold & clinical, and uninviting. Now you can ditch the all-white and add creams, off-whites, and other shades of white for a warmer, more natural feel.  

Emily Clark via pinterest

5. Voice Activated Assistants

I am still new to the whole idea of a talking to a little black device like they are a human and having them perform commands for you throughout the house, but it looks ike this is the way of the future!  It's kind of still pretty unbelievable to me.  Do you have an Alexa?  How do you like it?

via amazon

What do you think of these new home design trends??

With more and more screen time available, it can be hard to find time and activities that provide exercise for kids. Just like exercise for adults helps us feel healthier and happier, kids need physical activity to help them feel less stressed, perform better in school, sleep better at night, maintain a healthy weight and have an overall positive view of themselves. With summer approaching, there are countless ways that you can get outside and play with your kids. Here are some tips to make it happen. 

via She Knows

• Kids need at least one hour of physical activity every day. Rather than do it all at once, think of ways to work in that activity in 10 - 15-minute increments.  
• Physical activity for your kids should be a priority, so instead of hoping that it fits into your day, schedule specific activities or time slots that will get you moving. If you haven’t thought to include some form of exercises like a hike or a visit to the park into your day, it likely won’t happen.
• As the parent, you should set a good example for your kids! When they see you exercising, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, participating in a hike, or playing a game of soccer, they see the importance of moving. Come up with activities that you can do together.

via Keri Glassman - Nutritious Life

• Make sure the activities your kids are participating in are age-appropriate and fun. For a small child, a visit to the park where they run, jump, and climb is perfect. An older child might get bored of a playground and prefer a game of soccer or basketball. Know the interests of you child and match the activity to their personality and age.
• Limit screen time and have consistent rules that your child will understand. They will grow up knowing that video games, TV, phones, and computers have their time and place, but there are other things that are equally important and fun.
• Most importantly, make exercise for kids fun! It shouldn’t be a punishment to go outside and move. Exercise for kids is playing, moving, and using their imagination.

Do you have any tips to make exercise for kids fun?

Nothing adds more to summer dinners than good, grilled vegetable recipes. Go to the farmers market, pick up some fresh vegetables, and get ready to have the best side dish you’ve ever had! Check out these grilled vegetable recipes and see which one you think would go best with your bbq this weekend! 

Mexican Style Grilled Corn

Find the recipe at New York Times

 Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges

Find the recipe at Serious Eats

GRILLED GREEN BEANS AND PEACHES

Find the recipe at Bon Appetit

GRILL-ROASTED CARROTS WITH SWEET SOY SAUCE GLAZE

Find the recipe at Serious Eats

Don't these look delicious? Check out all the grills available at RC Willey and tell us some of your favorite grilled vegetable recipes!