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Stylish & Organized Linen Closet–Before & After

stylishly organized linen closet

Over a long holiday weekend this spring, one of our big organizing projects was to purge and stylishly rearrange the linen closet. I typically do this kind of work for clients, but this time it was my turn!

Although the closet didn’t look up to my standards, it functioned fine. I think this is one reason why it took us so long to get to it.

linen closet before

As I mentioned, our “before” closet was functional, but needed a coordinated look. So out came all the items. The shelf liners were removed and the shelves were painted a crisp white. To add a punch of color we painted the back wall a fresh green  that coordinated with a trio of canvas striped bins we already had.

organized linen closet stylish simple

While my husband was painting, I organized all the supplies into groups and then housed the items staying in the closet into bins or baskets. Each basket received a labeled tag and were arranged on the shelves based on how frequently they were used. We had most of the supplies for this project. I only needed to purchase the top three bins and for those I selected a solid beige canvas so that it didn’t compete with the stripe, but was a different texture than the baskets.

We are much happier with the way the our linen closet looks today!



Organizing your clothing closet? 
Here are some tips on making your closet functional and beautiful.


Happy organizing!

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Read full story By on June 22, 2011 in Closets, home organization, organization tips, simplified bee portfolio, storage

DIY Ribbon Chandelier in Shades of Purple

This spring we have hosted several family celebrations. One was for my daughter. She requested the event be “purple.” Originally I was going to add pops of black into the color scheme, but my Mom said it would look too harsh. I agreed and instead mixed shades of purple. The result was feminine, fresh and fun.
pretty purple party decor details // Simplified Bee

To capture the moment, I hired Jennifer Jacobson Photography. She took all of the images in the collage above. I think she did an amazing job!

martha stewart ribbon chandelier and cake stand
Martha Stewart’s ribbon chandelier was my inspiration and starting point for decorating the party’s main table.


diy ribbon chandelier how to

To make the ribbon “chandelier”, I first wrapped lavender satin ribbon around a 12-inch wreath form to cover the surface of the form. Using three colors of satin ribbon – lavender, purple and white – I cut lengths of about 16 inches. Then I created a pattern by knotting cut pieces of ribbon around the wreath at their midpoints.

DIY ribbon chandelier // Simplified Bee
The ribbon “chandelier” was hung using three smaller cut lavender ribbons and tied to my dining room’s chandelier. I love the whimsical touch and the way it pulled the color scheme together.

Next I will share the floral arrangements and block print tablecloth made for the party!

Wishing you a great weekend!
Cristin
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Read full story By on May 20, 2011 in DIY, Entertaining, Parties, simplified bee portfolio

Footstool in Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon Fabric

A few months back, I won a remnant of Schumacher’s fabulous Chiang Mai Dragon fabric in aquamarine from Mr. Goodwill Hunting {great blog – I’m a fan – you must stop by!}.  

schumacher chiang mai aquamarine fabric

This fabric is so beautiful {not to mention pricey}. I was nervous and didn’t want to ruin it. Therefore,  it sat idle until I could find the perfect application. 

foot stool before

This sweet footstool with brass curved legs was stolen purchased for $2 at a local estate sale last summer. This was it. It needed a new life.

chiang mai dragon foot stool

With a pair of scissors and a staple gun, I transformed the once tired footstool. It ‘s now so Chinoiserie chic. I love it. I hope Mr. Goodwill Hunting approves too. Do you?

Hopping over to Miss Mustard Seed’s furniture blog party… will you join me? 

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Read full story By on February 22, 2011 in DIY, furniture, green design, simplified bee portfolio, textiles

Christmas Breakfast with Elf on a Shelf

The Adventure’s of Tartanscot had a Holiday Decorating Contest and here’s my entry…

elf on shelf christmas breakfast table
It’s a joyful Christmas morning and the table is set for breakfast {well, brunch most likely!} The vintage “elf on the shelf” inspired the traditional red & green color scheme. I love when period styles are blended, so there’s a mix of modern, vintage and contemporary elements.
elf shelf christmas breakfast table above
The table features two table runners crisscrossing, both with fun prints. One is actually two dish towels from Crate & Barrel put together {shhh}… can you tell which one? The centerpiece consists of a sparkly snowman, Swedish Kosta Boda crystal snowball votive and red roses {Trader Joes, thank you very much!} with heather {from the garden} in a milk glass bowl (from an estate sale}. Here’s how to make the floral centerpiece.
elf modern christmas table red green design
Glittery, lime green snowflake ornaments are used as napkin rings {from Crate & Barrel}.
elf tabletop snacks for santa
The table even includes a note to Santa with nibbled snacks from the wee hours of the morning.
elf tabletop red glass ornaments twigself on shelf christmas table design ideas
And as you can see, that little elf keeps hopping around… he just wouldn’t sit still!
Happy Holidays!
*all photos by Cristin Priest for Simplified Bee®
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Read full story By on December 17, 2010 in Christmas, Entertaining, holiday decor, simplified bee portfolio