Brighten Your Life with Flowers

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Bring Nature Inside

Adding  Fresh Flowers to the Mantle

Brighten Up Your Life with Flowers
It is so nice to have fresh flowers in your house. It feels like it brightens up your life in some little way. I like to scatter them throughout the house. This is when bud vases come in handy. One bunch can bring flowers to several rooms. Whether you buy them from a florist or at the grocery store or grow them in your yard, the are sure to brighten your life.

Live Plants

Sometimes I run across a great deal at the.99 cent store. The other day I found these planters and white Mum plants. The plants fit perfectly into the pots so I never needed to transplant them. Once their time is up I will add them to the garden and go back to the .99 cent store and spend another $3. What a great investment for your environment.






Picture of a Sun Flower

 We have been growing Sun Flowers for the last few years and are they a sight. The are so radiant they almost make you smile. This is a picture of one of the Sun Flowers we grew. Even a picture of Flowers can brighten your room. It might be a good idea to take a trip to your local park and take some pictures of nature to decorate your house with.

Yellow

I have been on this Yellow kick for the past few months. It might have something to do with the Yellow rose of TX. I like to get several different types of flowers while only using 1 color. I usually keep the same type together as well...it just depends.






I hope you can find some inspiration to brighten up your life with Flowers.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Fabulous Custom Chotchkies for Less

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Make it Your Own - Paint it !

Frog Budah

Fabulous Custom Chotchkies for Less
I have said it before and I will say it again...go buy some spray paint in your favorite color. In this case I used white. I like to have a majority of white with splashes of color added. I only paid $4.99 for this Budah Frog. It made me smile, and for me that is all I need to close the sale. Now every time I look at it I smile. How nice is that especially for $4.99. I had the same experience withe the 3 sided Laughing Budah Head. I only paid .99 for it. I used a $1.99 can of white spray paint and I still have enough left over for my next project.

Before Painting

After Painting

It really helps to have a creative mind to find those Chotchkies that you can make fabulous just by giving them some love and attention. They don'y always look so great to begin with.This one was so little kid looking with funny flowers painted all over it. I saw it's beauty and new how great it could look in or house. I only paid $4.49 for this Snail.

Before Painting

After Painting

Laughing Budah Head

See how a fabulous Chotchkie can really make you eye move from one spot to another. I like having the pyramid shade with only 2 colors and something organic. All these objects are completely different but work well together because of the color and shapes.









I hope this inspires you to always be on the hunt. Whether it is at the $1 store, a yard sale  or even something you have in the Attic, you own it to yourself to MAKE IT FABULOUS. Have fun being creative..and remember it doesn't take alot of money to make it look like it did.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Easter: Simple Place Settings for your Table

Your Gay Husband tip of the Day :

Use a Simple Color Pallet for Greater Impact

Mellow Yellow my Chickadee

Yellow and White
For some reason I have gone crazy for YELLOW this season.  I love setting a table for a party. I get this from my Mother. She would set a table the day before a party so she would be ready and be able to spend the time it would need to create her desired look. Place settings and serve ware are my guilty pleasure. I find that when you put creative energy into your table setting your guest will feel special and relaxed. When adding color for Easter make sure to not go crazy. Pick 1 or 2 colors then go for it. Layer as much as you want but just make sure to only use those colors you chose and nothing else. Here I use Yellow and White but really build off of what you already own.

Egg Seating

Here I used a small terracotta vase that I bought 3 for $1 at the Dollar Tree. I also picked up some yellow Easter grass. I colored all of my eggs in yellow to keep with my theme then used a sharpy to write the guests name on it. I love having preset seating, it really mixes up the conversations and prevents clicks...such an intense sports conversations that have nothing to do with an Easter meal. Get to know each other better. It's good to have some questions prepared such as....what is your most memorable Easter....what was you Easter tradition growing up. Believe me it helps keeping people connected.


How To Set a Simple Place Setting

Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a stereotyped layout based on more formal settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and the way a person will use them. Usually in Western culture, that means that the forks, bread plate, spreader, and napkin are to the left, while knives, spoons, drink ware, cups, and saucers are to the right.

Green and White Place Setting

Green and White

When using a table cloth make sure that your napkins are the same color. Here I used white. I really like using white as a staple in my table setting collection. You can always add a pop of color, even a plate of limes or lemons will freshen the table with something organic. Everything including flowers will be green or white only. This will make for an elegant yet casual table. Run your flowers, candles and condiments like butter and salt and pepper down the center of the table and repeat if necessary depending on length of table.



Veuve Cliquot Pansardin Champagne

 I always have a water glass and either a wine glass or champagne glass depending what is being served.



Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne is my favorite for parties. This is the Champagne that Patsy and Edina would drink on Absolutely Fabulous. They were truly Fabulous !

I hope this gives you inspiration for your Easter Celebration this year. If not anything else you will know where the fork goes.

Hoppy Easter.

Til Later,

Your Gay Husband



Decorate for Spring

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Rotate Accessories and Make them Look NEW.

Spring Decorating

Decorate for spring
I don't know about you but I love to DECORATE and mix up all the things I love to make them seem new again. For this spring I am doing Whites, Apple Green with an Asian flare. I always start with a blank slate. I remove EVERYTHING from the area I am going to redecorate. It becomes your blank canvas and you are now the artist. Have FUN and enjoy the process. I gather everything that has to do with my colors and any Asian pieces I may have and put them out on a table so I know what I am working with. You might end up changing it a few times until you get what you like as your final result, just don't rush it and if you get frustrated, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes.



Add something Organic

I think it is important when dealing with design to break it down into smaller parts to make it more attainable. I add some Organics like a Bonsai, Lucky Bamboo or Candles to breath life into the space. It adds a touch of romance to the space when the candles are lit. I add keepsakes as well to keep memories fresh. I have this little Asian figurine that I purchased on the day of my Dads wake and it has been with me ever since. I think of him every time I see it.

Asian Ceramics

When setting up this portion of the mantle I am very careful not to make it seem like scenes yet still have interest. I have use organics as well as Asian ceramics that I have collected. Notice that white with a small amount of green has been added to ensure continuity.

Apple Green Aaccessories

To anchor the fireplace I did a small collection in Apple Green. I have Jonathan Adler Vases and a Fu Dog for good fortune. I like to have things in clusters where possible. It creates impact and really defines the space, in this case through color. I use varied heights to add dimension. If you noticed I do this on most of the surfaces on the mantle.

On the Patio

Here is what it looks like on the Patio. On top of the Fridge that I refinished is a cactus, apple green bird house, small apple green vase and a metal tea light holder that looks like a rock. On the cart next to the fridge i kept it pretty simple with a trio of White ceramic vases all various sizes to compliment each other.

Wishing Urns

You can easily make something fresh again just by moving things around. Here I took the Jonathan Adler Wishing Urns that were given to me as a gift from the downstairs mantle to an Upstairs Lane Coffee Table. Notice they are keeping with the white and there are 3 of them. Not to mention my memories of these gifts every time I see them.








So get out all of your keep sakes and ReDECORATE for SPRING.
I hope this inspires you too !
Send me some of you pictures or leave a comment about your Spring Decorating.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Edible CenterPiece for Your Table

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Make Food Storage a CenterPiece

Fruit Storage Made into a Edible CenterPiece

Edible CenterPiece for Your Table
There are a few things in life I like and 2 of them are creativity and functionality. When ever I go shopping I get a variety of Fruit. Some is more ripe than others. Where am I going to put all of it. You can't put fruit in the fridge that still needs to ripen not to mention out of sight out of mind. When I have fruit OUT and AVAILABLE, I eat more and that is the practical part of this...The creativity part speaks for itself.



Apples and Citrus

 Adding something organic to an otherwise lifeless table really brightens a room. Here I have a variety of Citrus and Fuji Apples. I don't know about you but I love grabbing an Orange or an Apple for a snack. The Lemons I use mostly for cooking and the Key Limes are perfect for Cocktails. As you see I will use every last piece of fruit one way or another.







 Edible Color for Your Table

This is the epitome of form and function. Don't worry if some of your fruit gets over ripe...that's what baking is for.
Make your own Edible CenterPiece and see if it inspires you to eat more fruit, it does for me.
I hope you enjoy mixing creativity with functionality.




It is not just for a centerpiece...it is for LIFE.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

"Live Green" with Fresh Flowers

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Decorate with FRESH Flowers

Gerbera Daisys

Fresh Flowers for Less
I love fresh Flowers around the house. When I plan my weekly shopping I always checkout prices for fresh Flowers. If you don't buy them on promotion they can be very expensive. I only spent $4.99 on these Gerbera Daisy's. They are one of my favorites.
BIG impact with BIG savings.

Gerbera Daisy in Bud Vases with Tea Lights

Here I used the Gerberas in 5 Bud Vases with tea light candles between them. This makes for a great centerpiece inside or out. I used these on my outside patio for a romantic dinner.

Gerbera in a Single Vase

It is nice to keep fresh Flowers next to your bed on a night stand or in the bathroom. This just took 1 flower and adds tons of impact to any space. I recommend collecting vases, especially bud vases of every color a size. This will allow you to maximize your looks.

Gerbera in Large Vase

These are the same flowers just with a totally different look. I used all of them in 1 large vase. I usually don't care for pink flowers but these were such a beautiful tone that I couldn't resist.












Add beauty to your surroundings for only $4.99. Yep I only spent $4.99 for these looks. I bought them at the grocery store believe I or not. When picking Gerberas make sure the center is tight and just starting to bloom. Change water every 3 days and should last for 10 days or so.

Enjoy adding beauty to your home by adding FRESH FLOWERS.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Painting a Focal Wall

YourGayHusband Tip of the Day :
Roll in W pattern to avoid Roller Marks


Art-room Silkscreen Zone

 Painting A Focal Wall

We have a room in our house that is dedicated strictly to creating. We call it the Art-room. Our Art-room is broken down into zones such as Painting, Sewing, Jewelry etc.. The room is all white with Birch wood desk. I was thinking of having a blank slate when we first painted the room. We just got a Silk Screening machine so I wanted  to create a Focal wall where we will do our Silk Screening. 

 

Martha Stewart Paint

  I found this Martha Stewart Paint at the Home Depot. It is a latte/ cappuccino color latex, interior, eggshell paint. This paint is great. It is thicker than most paints which makes it 1 coat. No primer was necessary. The idea is to give a wall with a darker color but still a neutral. I want to be able to see the designs and Silk Screening projects up against the wall. This will allow me to see it as if it were framed. Better than another white wall.

Cutting in Outlets

First I made sure wall was clean of dust and that I patched any holes. Once that was done I taped off the section of the room I was painting and laid down newspaper to avoid a mess. I recommend turning up the music and letting it flow. You will be finished before you know it.

cutting in ceiling

The first thing to paint are the edges of the room, around any windows or electrical outlets. Make sure to remove the covers from your electrical outlets so they don't get paint on them. This will give a professional look.

Roll in W pattern

Make sure that your roller is completely saturated with paint before painting. Start rolling on the paint in a W pattern so that you will not get any roller marks.
 TIME - 3-4 hours
COST - $40 including supplies
Level of Difficulty - 2 on a scale of 1-5




  This was a Fun project and got us set in the right direction to create even more. Just because you have an Art-Room doesn't mean it has to be messy and disorganized. Create Zones and have Fun yourself.
Til Later,
YourGayHusband

Green Living with Indoor Plants

YourGayHusband Tip of the Day:
Take care of your plants and they will take care of you
Winter care for Indoor Plants.
I don't know about you but I love being surrounded by plants. If I could live in a green house, I would. Back in the early 90's when Paula Abdul dominated the airwaves, I was working at a Nursery at the SF Flower Mart...and LOVING it. This is where I learned how to care for plants.








During the winter months it is important to cut back on the watering of your inside plants. I do 10 days to 2 weeks between watering during winter. This will vary on the plant. Just make sure it is dry before watering again. The plants will go into a dormant stage and NOT grow as much and maybe lose a few leaves. This is normal.




This is a perfect time to give your plants some attention before spring. Rinse your plants off completely by either putting the smaller plants in the shower or spraying the larger plants with a spray bottle.






Every so often you need to dust your plants. The plants with smaller leaves or cactus can be dusted with a feather duster. For your broad leaf plants, I recommend taking a damp cloth and wiping each leaf. If you see any brown edges, go ahead and trim this off with a sharp pair of scissors. At the nursery they would use a sharp straight edge razor. This made them look perfect.





Give back to your plants and they will provide not only a beautiful environment but they will help by providing Oxygen and keeping your house fresh.
Lets get to it.
Til Later,
YourGayHusband

Decorate for Valentines Day

YourGayHusband Tip of the Day:
Decorate your Mantle for your Valentine
Valentines Day Decorating
I love Valentines Day and I love changing up my Mantle as well as other areas of my house seasonally. Whether you have a Valentine or not you really owe it to yourself to freshen up your surroundings with the things you love, then have a PARTY.
LIKE - changing decor seasonally
DISLIKE - needing to edit
TIME - 1 hour find your chi
Level of Difficulty - 2 on a scale of 1-5




I like to start with a blank slate. A blank wall will open your mind. I take all the things I love within a color spectrum and put them on a table so I can easily see what I have. For this I used Red, White and Silver. I build a shelf starting with the tallest and biggest pieces. I found it makes it easier and more impactful when you group your items close together. It is important to add an organic touch such as plants, wood, shells, flowers etc... It helps breath life into your home .




Where I have three built in shelves one on top of the other, I make sure not to over fill and focus your eye. I wanted the focus to be on my wishing urns by Jonathan Adler. They were a Valentines Day gift. I also think is is equally important to have those wonderful found objects that have personal meaning to you. It brings Joy and stirs up good memories when you see them.
In this final picture I removed anything organic from the shelves so you can see what a difference it makes.
Make it CREATIVE, Make it FUN and Make it YOUR OWN.
I will be using candle and flower in my Dining room table.



Being creative is my passion. I hope you find INSPIRATION
in today's blog and bring your home to life for Valentines Day!
We are all worth it and more.





Til Later,
YourGayHusband

What HOMESTYLE are you ?

YourGayHusband Tip f the Day:
Visit places that bring you Design Inspiration
I have a question for you...what HOMESTYLE are you ? Are You living your HOMESTYLE ? Are you vacationing where you find design Inspiration.
This and many other HOMESTYLE design questions we will be discussing on a regular basis in this segment called "What HOMESTYLE are you ?"

The first house is a beautiful Lake house in the Colorado. What a serene setting. http://www.visitcolorado.com/.


I found this next house on an Island in the Caribbean called Caye Caulker. It is best know for fishing and scuba diving. Talk about finding Design Inspiration. Feeling the ocean breeze and having a Martini....I am inspired already.
You can see more places like this at http://www.cayecalkerforsale.com/.



This next house is over 100 years old. When we stayed here we kept on thinking about all the great memories that were made in the cabin. Quiet and Nature bring that Organic Design to life. More info at http://www.visitcolorada.com/.





Another great way to enjoy the ocean is to live 100" away. I get inspired by the color and contrast of nature vs man-made. You can get a better look at this house at http://www.belizepropertycenter.com/.





I wish I had a better picture of these Victorians in San Fransisco. We lived there years ago. The Art that we created there is still a big part of our HOMESTYLE now. San Fransisco is a great place to explore different Design Styles. www.visitsanfransisco.com.

Please share what your HOMESTYLE is or what brings you Design Inspiration.
Til Later,
YourGayHusband