Spring | Design Happens

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How to Hard-Boil Eggs for Easter

by Liz Gray March 29, 2013 1 Comment

Decorating eggs is an Easter rite of passage for me and my sister. We’re not doing it “for the kids” since neither of us have any (yet); we just love sketching, coloring and creating our own designs. If you use real eggs like we do, there’s a secondary benefit: Once you’re done admiring your tie-dyed handiwork, you can eat your art (well, you know, the inside part.)

At best, hard-boiled eggs are tender and delicious; at worst, they’re overcooked and rubbery with a greenish tint. Whether you’re making egg salad or deviled eggs this Easter, try this simple technique to get hard-boiled eggs that are delicious every time.

How to Hard Boil Eggs for Easter - HGTV's Design Happens
Get Easy Hard-Boiled Egg Instructions

Tuesday Huesday: Get Cozy With Bright Living Room Colors

by Liz Gray March 26, 2013 9 Comments

This photo by Tamar of Nest Pretty Things perfectly sums up my mood today: I’m ready to spend the afternoon in the sun, if it wasn’t for the layer of late-breaking snow. Sigh. Decor-wise, this living room from Society Social’s magalog evokes the same feeling. The polka-dotted pillows and fun flamingo wallpaper bring springy vibrancy into the space, while the faux fur keeps the room cozy enough for (yet another) cold night.

Orange and Pink Living Room Color Palette

Orange and Pink Living Room :: Flowers in the Snow

As you might have guessed, I’m not too happy with Punxsutawney Phil (or rather, his handler.). What colors are helping you endure this latest cold snap?

Weekday Crafternoon: Baker’s Twine-Wrapped Easter Eggs

by Marianne Canada March 20, 2013 4 Comments

Easter comes early this year, so here at HGTV we’ve been elbow deep in egg decorating for weeks. You just never know when you’ll find one of our editors marbling, gilding, tattooing, or glittering eggs, we’re that committed. My contribution? These super cute baker’s twine-wrapped paper mache eggs. Check it out:

Baker’s twine is so on trend right now, and it finds a new purpose when wrapped around paper mache eggs, don’t you think?

Learn how to make these Baker's Twine-Wrapped Easter Eggs on Weekday Crafternoon

Already have your egg-decorating plans in place? Then don’t miss these other Easter decor ideas:

Craft a Faux Bird’s Nest for Spring and Easter Decorating

by H. Camille Smith March 20, 2013 11 Comments

Welcome back, spring — I’ve missed you so! The weather here in Knoxville has (thankfully!) warmed, birds are singing and flowers are popping up everywhere. My backyard is abloom with crocuses, daffodils, tulips, forsythia and lenten roses putting on a colorful show. I’m a flower picker from way back. There’s hardly a photo of a preschool me where I don’t have a bunch of wildflowers (and honestly, sometimes just plain weeds) clutched tightly in my chubby fist. So when my yard breaks into bloom, I break out the scissors and head outside to claim some spring color to brighten up the indoors.

I’ve also always been fascinated by that other harbinger of spring: bird’s nests, eggs and baby birds hopping about. Obviously, I’ve no plans to bring those inside — but – in under an hour I can turn aluminum foil, moss and hot glue into a realistic looking bird’s nest that adds a sweet spring touch: Jute twine, Spanish moss and aluminum foil are all you need to make a lovely faux bird's nest for spring celebrations.

Pretty, huh? It was actually easy to make – get the complete step-by-step instructions here>> The tiny robin’s eggs are easy to craft too, my instructions include how to paint and speckle them.

You can make your nest any size you like. I made this one large enough to work as an Easter basket of sorts: Jute twine, Spanish moss and aluminum foil are all you need to make a lovely faux bird's nest for spring celebrations.

Tuesday Huesday: A Color Palette Good Enough to Eat

by Liz Gray March 19, 2013 6 Comments

Carrot cake is one of my favorite spring desserts — it’s comforting, homey and just a little bit spicy. (Also, there is cream cheese frosting.) This Moroccan-inspired bathroom’s palette is like the design equivalent of the beloved cake: It not only matches the warm, neutral tones, but the worldly accent pieces, modern geometric tile and striped curtains add just enough spice to this mostly-neutral space.

Orange and Cream Bathroom Color Palette: Tuesday Huesday on HGTV's Design Happens

Moroccan Bathroom :: Carrot Cake

I think I will have one of each: one inviting bathroom, one slice of cake. How about you?

Get more color palette inspiration from our previous Tuesday Huesday posts.

Our Favorite Easter Decorating Ideas

by H. Camille Smith March 13, 2013 13 Comments

Easter celebrations are right around the corner — time to banish winter blahs and freshen up indoors and out with a few springy touches. We’ve gathered 25 of our favorite Easter decorating ideas to inspire you. From quick-and-easy centerpiece ideas to a clever way to glam up your Easter eggs to a free, printable Easter banner — we’ve got you covered.

All 25 ideas have the official Easter Bunny stamp of approval (seriously!) but here are my 5 favorites:

Delight Easter guests with this creative place setting idea featuring cute (and oh-so-fluffy!) feathered chicks and candy eggs: Set your Easter table with a creative place card like these cute (and oh-so-fluffy!) chicks and candy eggs

Weather permitting, bring your dining table and chairs outside and enjoy Easter dinner al fresco surrounded by Mother Nature’s changing scenery.

Easter Kids’ Craft: (Cute!) Painted Pail With Ribbon Roses

by H. Camille Smith March 6, 2013 5 Comments

Can you believe it’s only 3 weeks till Easter? Time to hop to it and get crafting! For a fun twist on a traditional Easter basket, try a painted pail instead — it’ll look great filled with treats on Easter morning and is just the right size for stashing toys or craft supplies the rest of the year.

All you need is a metal pail, spray paint and round stickers. Get step-by-step instructions here: Easy Kids' Craft: Cute Easter Bucket With Ribbon Roses

The ribbon roses may look complicated but they’re actually a snap. Wired ribbon and scissors are all you need — no sewing necessary. Learn how to make them here:
Easy Kids' Craft: Cute Easter Bucket With Ribbon Roses

So, are you ready for Easter celebrations? No? Well then you’re in luck — check out the project ideas below and keep checking Design Happens for more Easter inspiration to come!

MORE EASTER IDEAS:
Printable Bunny Ears — Free Printable PDF
Hatching Chick Egg
Kids’ Craft: Dyed Easter Egg Animals — Free Printable PDFs
How to Make Cascarone Confetti Eggs

Weekday Crafternoon: Easter Wreath With Paper Flowers

by Marianne Canada March 5, 2013 8 Comments

The calendar is telling me that spring should be making an appearance any day now (not to mention that pesky groundhog), but y’all? It is COLD here. We had a hard freeze this week at HGTV headquarters, and there is snow in the forecast tomorrow. Snow! I am doggedly ignoring all of this and instead looking at this lovely Easter wreath, packed with charming paper flowers and so easy to make, it will warm your heart (if not your freezing hands). Check out the DIY video:

The best part of this floral wreath? It’s inexpensive and, if stored properly, can be enjoyed for many spring seasons to come.

DIY Easter Wreath

So, what’s the weather like in your part of the world? Are you dreaming of spring decor while there’s frost on the ground?

Want more crafty inspiration? Check out past episodes of Weekday Crafternoon right here.

Cooking for Company: Individual Strawberry Shortcakes

by Liz Gray May 11, 2012 2 Comments

Strawberry season is upon us, and for me, that means lots of opportunities to whip up my one of my all-time favorite spring dishes: strawberry shortcake. I know I’m not alone in my devotion to this dessert; in fact, I seriously question anyone who claims not to be head-over-heels for this classic combo. (If you want to diss strawberry shortcake, you’ll have to go through me first.)

That’s precisely what makes it perfect for a spring dinner party or a Mother’s Day brunch. Plus, it’s easy to give it your own spin to make it feel extra-special: In this Italian-inspired version, lemony ricotta cream and balsamic-mint strawberries elevate the Southern classic.

Strawberry Shortcakes With Ricotta Cream and Balsamic-Mint Berries

Get the recipe and see step-by-step photos after the jump.

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Daily Delight: Adventurous Art Deco Pillows

by Briana Mowrey March 21, 2012 6 Comments

Animal-related motifs and patterns always attract me, and my undying affection for all things art deco has been well-documented. So I’m in the sweet spot for DwellStudio’s new line of spring pillows.

dwell studio pillows

One of the things I love about DwellStudio is their blog, where they frequently write about where they got the design inspiration for certain pieces. Turns out this pillow collection was inspired by Martin and Osa Johnson documentaries and “the 1920s Golden Age of Adventure.” (See their post for more inspiration and their mood board.) I dig how they look all together, but if pressed, I’m partial to the zebra pillow. It reminds me of that Scalamandre wallpaper I dream about, and this zebra scarf I’ve wanted for the longest time. Perhaps it’s a sign to buy the pillow? Yes, that must be it.