Fall Vignette: Golden Pumpkin

With the holidays just around the corner I wanted to jazz up my place with some October harvest. I bought a few miniature pumpkins, maroon coloured dried corn and some interesting looking squash to create a fall vignette with. I found that I needed a little more sparkle so I decided to punch up one of the mini pumpkins with a gold tack DIY.

All you need is a pumpkin (or any other legume you want to spice up) and some tacks (I picked these up from the dollar store). This would work just as well with silver tacks.

Closet Makeover

I know I said that this weekend I was going to take a load off, but I couldn't do it. I tried... I really tried, but while I was laying in bed Sunday morning I realized how boring my closet look.  The white, sliding door, builder basic closet. You know the ones. So, I decided to give it a bit of a makeover. Some paint, handles and a picture to hide the electrical box on the side.

I have been contemplating adding some trim on the doors to help it look more wardrobe-like, but that will have to wait until another Sunday afternoon when I am supposed to be relaxing.

Here is how you can get the look.

When you are putting the handles on the doors make sure that you put both handles on the left side or right side of the door depending on which way you want your doors to slide. If you don't do this you will not be able to slide the doors open afterward.

Weekend Love

This weekend I've decided to take a load off. No sanding. No painting. No power tools. Just a big cup of Egyptian Camomile tea and hours of movie watching wrapped in my favourite throw. I did want to take a minute to send you all some love with some warm fuzzies I found on Pinterest.

Have a fabulous weekend square-footers!

Fashion + Decor

So I just discovered this AMAZING site and I just couldn't keep it to myself! Now I've always seen the relationship between fashion and decor, knowing that it is never a coincidence that the same colours, prints and designs on the racks pop up in home decor stores from season to season; but I was absolutely mesmerized when I saw how my new favourite site, Fashion + Decor, paired the two. Seamlessly marrying gorgeous runway looks with their decor counterparts. I LOVE IT! This is a site you definitely have to check out.

Now I am warning you in advance - all you fashion and decor lovers - countless hours of oohing and aahing will be spend browsing through this site. Ensure that nothing is on the stove or in the oven... I may or may not have burnt a sweet potato while looking through the Balenciaga Fall 2012 and Gary Hutton comparison. *Nervous laugh*

Here are some timbits from Fashion + Decor.

Alturzarra Spring 2013 RTW and Elle Decor

BCBG Max Azria Spring 2012 and DecorPad

Givenchy Fall 2012 Couture and DecorPad

Lela Rose Fall 2012 RTW and DecorPad

Milly Fall 2012 RTW and Elle Decor

Miu Miu Fall 2012 RTW and Elle Decor

On Display: Impact with Gallery Walls

A couple weekends ago I looked at the wall behind my television and thought to myself, "That wall needs a little something extra". This is usually how my ideas start - me looking around my apartment and letting my creative gears go wild. It's now become the running joke in my family.  My place is never the same when my family comes by. So yes! Once again I have decided to make another addition to my 800 sq. ft. canvas. A gallery wall!

Gallery walls are a great way to add impact and height to a small space. It relates back to rule no. 6 - Go Vertical - of my 8 Rules for Stylish Living in 800 Sq. Ft. Gallery walls, particularly ones that scale the wall and use vertical wall space, draw the eye upward and do an excellent job of expanding small spaces.

So as I was browsing the internet for inspiration, I found this awesome guide on alphaflores.com that walks you through different variations of gallery wall layouts. My personal favourite is the ' close fit ', but they are all great choices depending on where the gallery is going and what your personal taste is.

My gallery wall is still a work in progress, but I figure I'd give you a sneak peak of what I have added so far. I want to make sure that it is filled with pictures that I love and that it is also multidimensional. Meaning I want to incorporate objects on my wall along with my pictures. I'm thinking maybe another week or so and a visit to my favourite vintage shops for some interesting items and I'll be done. [Note: The 'Pant Collection' piece behind my television is a piece I found at a second hand shop that had come from The Gap.]

My wall before... blah and boring

My gallery wall now - In Progress

Here is some inspiration so that you can create your own gallery wall. You can also swing by my "Framsation Board" on Pinterest for a collection of stunning frame filled walls.

Golden Gray Home Decor Giveway!

Eligibility to Win Golden Gray Blue Seersucker Frame Decor:

1) Visit Eight Hundred Sq. Ft's Official Facebook Page and post your favourite nautical inspired room.

2) For a second chance to win follow Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. at @eighthundredsqf and tweet the same nautical inspired room with the hashtag #eighthundredsqft.

One winner, Canada and US only. Giveaway ends October 6, 2012 at 8:00 pm EST. Winner chosen at random. By entering this giveaway you agree to this site's giveaway policy and Official Rules of Entry.

To see more Golden Gray decor items visit their Online shop.

Good luck!

The Woman Behind the Knot

I had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely Amy Hostelley, founder and owner of Golden Gray -Decorative and Nautical Knot Decor.

Amy's knot decor is truly unique and like nothing I have ever seen before! I was instantly drawn to Amy's work. Hand tied nautical sailor's knots displayed on either eye-catching framed fabric or decorative wood pieces. After meeting her I realized that her work is truly a refection of herself. Get to know "The Women Behind the Knot".

How did Golden Gray Start?

A: Golden Gray started by accident actually! The name became before the business. I started designing and making jewellery casually and at one point I decided that I needed to make a name for my business. Now, before I was married my last name was Gray and I've always liked the combination of silver and gold jewellery. After much thought and contemplation I decided to use a play on words and called the business Golden Gray.

The concept of the decor business started because of Mother's Day when I was looking for gift ideas for my Mother and Mother-in-law. While I was roaming the aisless of Micheals I found an unfinished wooden picture frame cube that was perfect for incorporating pictures of my son. I picked it up and thought this would be perfect with painted and topped off with something. Now, I am addicted to Pinterest and remembered a pin that I had pinned ages ago that showed you how to tie these sailors knots. So I bought some rope and topped the painted box with a decorative nautical knot. Needless to say the little photo box was a hit! That little painted box was the inspiration for Golden Gray.

Where do you look for inspiration to develop new pieces?

A: A big inspiration for me is the beach and nautical inspired decor. I live about 3 hrs away from the beach and many times I pull inspiration from the colours, feel, and textures of the beach. But although the beach is a huge inspiration for me, I really pull inspiration from everywhere. There are time when I've seen gorgeous fabrics that I have been inspired by and know that it would look great framed and paired with a knot.

What is your best seller?

A: The best seller is easily my simplest design. It is the 7 x 7 wooden blue painted plaque with the plain nautical knot mounted on it. I think it it is the go to look because it is so versatile. You can put that piece in a beach house but you can also put it in a house in Kansas in the middle of nowhere and make it work in any decor because of its simplicity.

What is your favourite piece?

A: For a long time my classic 7 x 7 plain blue plaque mounted piece that I just spoke about was my favourite piece but I recently may have found a new favourite in a pieces that has just debuted in my Etsy shop. It is the Green Fern Floral Framed Fabric piece. It is just stunning with a gorgeous green and sleek white that pops and catches your eye.

What are 5 things Eight Hundred Sq. Ft. Readers should know about you?

1. I am the proudest Mommy in the entire world
2. Family is hands down the most important thing in my world and my top priority. Without family there is nothing.
3. I am extremely passionate and when I go for something I go for it full speed because I believe that we only live once so let's make the best that we can and put passion into it. 
4. I am crazy organized, borderline obsessively organized. Don't think I can be organized enough and think that I need to organize my organization. If you didn't notice, I love organization. 
5. My guilty pleasure in life it to just layout on the beach with a good book and just bake (although I know you are not supposed to). 

You can purchase Golden Gray Decor at her Online shop. Also follow Amy Hostelley and Golden Gray on Facebook and Twitter at @AmyHostelley and @GoldenGrayDecor or by clicking this Facebook Link.