Dandy on a budget

With all the belt-tightening, cut-backs and strict budgeting because of wage cuts that’s taking place with all and sundry, it is very much in place to wonder how to keep that space you call home looking dandy when it’s difficult to even include it on a budget.

Well, the age old DIY is and will always be a good option.   What I found works well is to decide on a project and since your finances does not allow you to hire help, note all that will be needed for the project and purchase the items over time.  That way you wouldn’t feel it too much in that area where it often hurts the most; your wallet or purse for us gals.

So pay attention to these tips.

1.  Decide on a project.

2.  Be on the look-out for sale prices.

3.  Don’t go over your budget because that can cause you some real stress.

4.  Avoid wastage, that will hurt you all over.

5  Be committed to seeing your project to the end .

DIY allows you to cut back but not sacrifice that dandy look and feel that you want surround your personal space.  So we’re keeping it dandy while we’re cutting back.

Fran

Some Days When it’s the Dandy Picks that pick you up

We all know what it’s like to be so down and maybe out as well when nothing seems to cheer us up.  Whether it is due to illness, PMS, whatever, the fact is that we are not always on top of the world.  Something always takes or attempts to take the optimism that have us believing that the world is not so much of a bad place after all.

So we crawl into our little safe haven, and guess what, we start viewing everything with a critical eye.  So if time and taste did not go into making that haven dandy, we want to escape there too.

So remember that dandy picks are not just to take us through those moments of decor emlightenment, but its there to become a part of our daily lives, and that includes those times when life is not too kind to us.  So just make sure your dandy picks can pick you up or at least has the potential to.

Merlene

Dandy Home Picks

Making a Dandy Choice for your Walls and Lights

Believe it or not, what covers your walls and illuminates your rooms makes a world of difference, and  can be basic or they can be ornate.  Wall coverings and lighting schemes should be carefully considered and should be stylish, long lasting and difinitely safe for all in your family to use.

There was a time when I used to think that my decor should be all about me, and family members should conform to the rules of use, but trust me, I’ve learnt my lesson the hard way.  So let experience be the best teacher, only that it must not be your experience.  You can learn from mine.  So when deciding on those dandy decor design and pieces, take into consideration who will be using it, make it as practical but please don’t leave out stylishly dandy.  Ensure that your choice(s) sits well with your overall style, its effecient and functional.

Fran

Dandy Home Picks

Accessories That’s Just Dandy

No matter how grand the idea for decorating is, the fine details, the accessories, always makes it a winner or a lamentable looser.

I love to have fine accessories.  To me, they make a world of difference.  Its like wearing a beautiful expensive dress, but using mis-matched shoes, totally out-of-line handbag, with a bad hair day, and believe me, no one will notice that your dress is beautiful; forget expensive.

Give some time to getting the right accessories that will make home really dandy, and as I do, you will just sit and be soothed by the beauty that surrounds you.  I sincerely believe that home should be an escape from all the madness that characterizes life.  It should be beautiful, cozy, peaceful and utterly relaxing.  Of course the personalities that occupy it makes a world of difference, so make sure there is a personality to match.

But do make your home dandy with great accessories that does not have to cost a mint.

Fran

Dandy Home Picks

Dandy All Over

One of the most popular places in the home is the bathroom.  I absolutely love the beautiful, cozy and yet intimate feel I get from one that is done tastefully.

With a seven year old boy and a husband who’s always busy and on the go, the bathroom must be practical, but stylish.  I love blue and white.  As I said before, there is a psychology in colors.  Blue, which is referred to as a “cool color” is one of my favourite colors, and because its the bathroom we are talking about, I always feel white has its place there, since it signifies purity.  I’m not making a religion about this, or even regarding it as very important.  Its subjective and a matter of personal feeling.

Well I decided to use blue and white as my theme colors, throwing in some yellow.  Of course, I use various shades of blue so as not to make it boring.

So if you are wondering what colors to use in the bathroom this holiday, how about my favourite.  Blue, white and yellow.  Use the yellow to accentuate your decor, so you can have a yellow vase, and blue flowers, or vise versa, hang blue and yellow towels,  yellow tie-backs on the blue shower curtain and so on.  Hope you get the picture.  Whatever you do, just make it dandy all over.

Fran,

Dandy Home Picks

Making It Dandy

As the holidays are approaching, what’s on your mind?  Well I can share what’s on my mind.  Just making my space beautiful, more beautiful than the previous holidays.  If that is what’s on your mind too, then what are we looking for.  New, fresh ideas.  Ideas that will make us go whao!  But ideas that will not break our pockets, and send us into debt.

Some of those ideas are:

1.  Getting out some of your favourite stuff that have been packed away and refreshing them with lively additions.

2.  Enhancing some areas with plants, candles, wallpaper, rugs, or unique but breath-taking ornamental pieces.

3.  Change the color scheme; there is a psychology in colors.  Different colors ignite different emotions.  We will talk more about that in my next blog.

4.  Making it dandy is all about you.  Your taste, creativity, style, and all our ideas put together.

5.  Last of all, don’t think that only an interior decorator can create that refreshing and appealing look that wins the admiration of friends, relatives and visitors.  You can do it all on your own.

Fran,

Dandy Home Picks