May is Home Improvement Month, and since improving your home doesn’t have to mean tearing down a wall or installing new countertops, I thought I’d share a very simple update you can make to your home. If you have dark walls then your white power outlets are probably too noticeable for your own liking. Emily from Jones Design Company found a great solution that only requires some decorative scrapbook paper, Mod Podge, scissors and a sponge brush. So if you can glue paper, this project is for you. You can check out her blog for the complete tutorial. What other decoupage projects would you like to try in your home? Tell us in the comments below.

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone! Perhaps you’re getting showered with gifts and love today because you are a mother yourself. Then you should definitely watch the video from Thanksfa below. (Just keep some tissues handy.) Or maybe you want to honor your mom, but you’re far away and can’t give her our sweet last-minute Mother’s Day idea. Watch the video, then send it along in an email to her. If she’s anything like we are, she’ll tear up at sight of random New Yorkers thanking their moms on camera for everything from homework help to sharing punk music.

And because I’ve had success in giving a small shout-out in a post before — Buzz and I are engaged now, ta-da! — I want to say Happy Mother’s Day to you, Mamacita. Thank you for giving me your appreciation for all things beautiful (watching you decorate your condo was instructive), your silliness, your work ethic and also for keeping me alive for 30 years. No small feat! You continue to impress and inspire me. Love infinity!

What do you want to thank your mother for? Tell us in the comments!

[Via: Lili and Gothamist]

Happy Mother’s Day! My sisters and I always take my mom to Cracker Barrel, her favorite breakfast spot — she loves their pecan pancakes and prefers them over anything we could ever make for her (and I don’t blame her). I’m sure this day has snuck up on a lot of you, so you may not have a gift for your mother, or maybe you want to do a little extra to show your appreciation. You can start out by making her favorite breakfast. To add that extra personal touch, set the table and add a sweet message on the tablecloth or place mat. This idea from A Subtle Revelry will make your mom feel extra special on her day and you can create the look in minutes. Here’s what you do: Print out your message on iron-on transfer paper in your desired font, place the paper face down on the cloth, iron it and peel back the paper.

What other plans do you have for your mom or grandmother today? Tell us in the comments below.

If you’ve perused HGTV.com’s entertaining and holiday sections, then you certainly know who Camille Styles is. And if not, then you need to get to know her because she’s fabulous. And to be honest, I’m not quite sure how she manages to do it all. (There are only 24 hours in a day!) As the owner and creative director of Camille Styles Events, Camille runs her Austin-based event planning company with the help of a top-notch team. She’s also a lifestyle expert and the founder of CamilleStyles.com, where she shares daily entertaining ideas, DIY projects, recipes and inspirational design ideas to hundreds of thousands of readers each month. Plus, she’s the host of HGTV’s upcoming mobile party planning app. This girl does it all.

Camille Styles of Camille Styles Events :: Photography by Paige Newton

Camille is all about stress-free party planning and stress-free style, and those qualities are evident right when you click into her blog, CamilleStyles.com. It’s inspirational, light and feels completely natural. The blog is made up of a team of nine writers, including Camille, who all contribute through various features or specialties. And most of what you’ll find is brand-new, original projects, recipes and designs created  by the team, and that’s what I love most. I know I’m seeing fresh ideas I won’t find anywhere else. (You’ll go Pinterest-crazy after visiting Camille’s blog — guaranteed.)

Speaking of Pinterest, Camille’s page is chock-full of more than 2,000 food, party and decorating ideas. So, start following and pin away.

When I come to Camille’s blog, there are certain features I immediately check out and bookmark. With summer right around the corner (or practically here), I’m constantly on the search for delicious summer recipes and cocktails, plus easy DIY projects I can do on a rainy day. Here are my favorite Camille Styles’ features and some ideas you can enjoy, too.

Tuesday Tastings, The Perfect Bite + Bottoms Up

Pear, Chevre and Honey Flatbread Recipe :: Ginger-Plum Sangria Recipe

I think we can all agree that one of the best Pinterest categories is “food.” If you love to cook or are a novice chef like me, check out “Tuesday Tastings” and “The Perfect Bite” where Camille and blogger Jess Simpson share recipes and mouth-watering photography. I’m dying to try this pear, chevre and honey flatbread recipe (above, left). Remember the bohemian-style wedding we shared with you last week? This yummy dish was featured there, too. It would be the perfect addition to an outdoor summer soiree, don’t you think?

Don’t forget those poolside cocktails! Camille shared this ginger-plum sangria recipe just before Cinco de Mayo in her new weekly feature, “Bottoms Up.” This is the perfect place to pick up delectable cocktail (and mocktail) concoctions for small and large gatherings alike.

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Do you see that guy reading a book? I want to be him. The Nestrest by DEDON is a blissful way to relax — you can hang it from a tree or let it sit on the ground in your backyard (or front yard to make your neighbors jealous). French designers Daniel Pouzet and Fred Frety made this pod to camouflage with the surrounding environment, while providing a private shelter that enwraps the person inside. You could pair it with the summer iglu Grant found at High Point Market to take outdoor lounging to a whole new level.

I don’t know about your furry friend, but my Yorkie loves being outside when the weather gets warmer. I worry about her getting heat exhaustion though — so while shopping around for a cute little doghouse, I ran across these sustainable doghouses by Sustainable Pet Design. This doghouse barn features a green roof, so the pet-friendly design also helps the environment. Sustainable Pet Design ships their doghouses along with drainage material, filter fabric, soil mix and a list of native plants in your region. Now all you need to get are some cute overalls and a straw hat for your dog, and he’ll fit right in this barn!
 
 

A few of you were right on key. This hat lamp designed by Mars Hwasung Yoo is a quirky way to add lighting to a room. Hwasung Yoo’s main message for creating this lamp is freedom of form and expressing creativity with shape without detracting from an object’s main purpose. Maybe he was feeling very creative and going for a combination hat/pizza dough/saddle/seesaw shape.

 Check back next Wednesday to guess at a new item.

What’s better than great design? Great design for a great cause. More than 20 interior designers collaborated to turn a dated, 1950s colonial estate into a decked-out showhouse in Washington, D.C.’s Spring Lake neighborhood, all to benefit Children’s National Medial Center.  If you live in the DC area, there’s still time to buy tickets and tour the amazing 10,000 square foot home this weekend — it’s open to the public through Monday, May 14.

Can’t make it to DC? Check out a few of our favorite spaces from the home.  (See photos of the entire home right here.)

Design by Blake Dunlevy and Gina Benincasa; Photo by Robert Radifera

Playing off the “old” Washington flavor of the Spring Valley home, designers Blake Dunlevy and Gina Benincasa of D&A Dunlevy Landscapers used bright azaleas and peonies to accent the boxwoods bookending the front entry of this stately residence.

Design by Sharon Kleinman; Photo by Robert Radifera

Designer Sharon Kleinman of Transitions wanted the master bedroom to be serene and sensual, so she added rich chocolate walls, her own custom-designed headboard and an antique wedding cabinet alongside textured, neutral bedding.

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I’m personally not really into superheroes, but I had to check out what all the hype was behind the movie The Avengers. I am now a converted superhero lover, and these USB sticks designed by Dane-Elec are a good way to show off my new-found obsession at work. My favorite is the Hulk smash — it sends a “don’t mess with me” message. Iron Man is a close second since his eyes light up when plugged in, but I could really use Captain America’s shield — if it can shield us from evil extraterrestrials then it can shield my computer from viruses, right? What’s your favorite superhero? Tell us in the comments below.

I’m a self-confessed Justin Timberlake fan and have been since the 90s – you know, the ‘N Sync days? So, when I heard that Justin was teaming with celebrity stylist and interior designer Estee Stanley to launch HomeMint, a collection of home goods and art, I kind of freaked out, naturally.

Justin is an international artist, style icon and entrepreneur, and now, he’s officially marching into the design world as HomeMint’s designer and curator. It may seem like unlikely territory, but to him it feels natural. “HomeMint combines my love of architecture and interior design with my passion for technology and social media to create a brand that offers aspirational designs for the home at accessible prices,” he says.

Justin Timberlake, designer/curator of HomeMint

Justin and Estee designed some of the pieces in the collection and curated others, seeking inspiration from European design and blends of different styles of architecture. The collection, that officially launched today, features everything from bohemian throw pillows and ceramic storage jars to Thonet dining chairs and Indian Ikat hand-tufted rugs. The exclusivity and uniqueness of many of these products are where Justin and Estee’s expertise is evident.

At today’s launch event at The Mercer Hotel in New York City, the two discussed the line’s look and feel, having both male and female curators. Justin certainly brings a level of masculinity to the collection, although feminine elements still remain intact. While Estee finds the masculinity apparent through the dinnerware and throws, Justin thinks the collection’s layering presents his strongest influence but adds: “There’s nothing like a woman’s touch to a home.”

So, I’ve already picked out a few of my favorite HomeMint items. (Well done, JT. Well done.) What I love most is how unique each item feels, along with the European flair. They’re all right on trend, but still feel like they could last in your home for ages.

Speckled silk pillow in orange and pink (top); Jacobean print pillow in orange (bottom)

Artwork: New Wave by Sage Vaughn

Antique Russian hand-woven rug (top); Antique Moroccan hand-tufted rug (middle); Turkish hand-knotted rug (bottom)

Decorative brass (left) and silver (right) skulls

Celadon carved vase with cover; Large and small ironwood snakes

Hand-woven Moroccan basket; Tarascon cereal bowl and mug; Blonde hickory cutting board

HomeMint shoppers can purchase these products at non-member pricing or pay a monthly membership fee of $9.99. Members receive exclusive pricing, early-bird access to limited edition items and a personalized showroom of products each month, matched to their particular style.

Check out the brand-new collection and let us know what you think. Are you surprised by Justin’s taste? Were you expecting the pieces to be different? Let us know in the comments below.