Project Done!!!

I can't beleive it, I finished a project for myself. Well maybe not quite for myself, it is for my children,but it still counts be cause they are in my house. So let me brief you quickly on how I came about this project. I have this sister-in-law, whose house I was at one day and she had these wooden plaques, each with her children's names on them and then there were all these little paper tags hanging off of these hooks. Can you guess what it was? A Chore Chart, ok seriously, all of us who are blessed to have little ones running around the house causing chaos where 'er they roam, know that them little ones must be tamed with, you guessed it CHORES!! It was such a bad word when I was a kid, yet the best word a parent has ever heard. How could I have let soo much time go by without a darn chore chart in my house, these things are heaven!! So I have to admit through this project I had developed resentment to my sister-in-law, heaven bless her sole, because my mind would not stop running with ideas on how to make these chore charts for my children, and no way on earth was this going to be a simple one day project. Darn my sister-in-law for the good idea!! So anyways I went with the approach that I was going to only use things around my house and workshop to make these chore charts and this is how they turned out!!

Here is my daughter's chore chart.

When her chores are all complete the tags are turned this way so it looks all cutsie.

I used all of my left over price tags from my products and had some major fun putting trinkets on one side of them.

I basically took a vintage mirror and popped it out of the frame, then I just used up some paper and other things I had on hand to adorn it.

I just had to place a good luck sign on Chloe's chart because heaven knows she needs all the luck she can get when she is handed a task...she is 3 and a half.

My son on the other hand is pretty efficient and ended up with pretty cool chore chart.

I really wanted to keep it as masculine as possible with a broze, gold, black and cream theme with a hint of red and blue. It is amazing at how "boy" it looks yet I got away with using quite a bit of glitter. Pretty sneaky huh!

I actually hand cut all of his tags because I couldn't find a shape I really liked for him.

I just love this tag with the buttons and safety pins!!

So this shows the front and back of the tags. On one side you have the chore and the other side you have the adornments.

So each and everyday we start out with the tags faced this way so they know exactly what chores they need to complete and when they are finished they get the greatest satisfaction of flipping them over so the decorative side shows. And they hang in our hallway with all of our family pictures and the perfect height for their little fingers to take all the action.

In this case it is showing that my daughter needs to get dressed and do her hair, and the next one is brush her teeth. The pictures are great so she knows exactly what to do since she can't yet read.

I was just sooo excited that I actually completed something that I just had to share it out of pure self satisfaction, I know silly huh, but anyways hopefully you all enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed watching my children have some responsibility....aahhh parenting is great sometimes!!!

July's Products

New items just entered the website today...

Curvy branch Ball topiaries...

A shadow box sure to shed some light...
Look for it in the Featured Item and Decor category
and an amazing 4 panel distressed screen... aahhh love

Look for it in the Featured Item and Total Obsessions category

Available now at http://www.chateaucouturedecor.com/

Whippy Cake Madness

I wanted to tell you all about the fabulous things going on at Whippy Cake right now!! She is having a countdown to the launching of her new website and during this process she is offering some great give aways from certain vendors that she has hand picked! Chateau Couture has the honor of being one of the seven vendors that will be listed, and I have included some great give aways. Keep checking her sight daily to see what those give aways are... because I'm not telling. She has already listed 4 vendors and there will 3 more listed. And not to fret because you have until July 30th to sign up for the free stuff, just follow her instructions on how to qualify!!

If you are not familiar with Whippy Cake, please do so by checking out her blog, she is a talented sole who has a passion about what she does, and she does it well!! I believe her website will be out of this world with the most delectable hair confections, the most amazing pettiskirts, fabulouso new stuff... the list goes on and on. She has been working hard on this website for quite some time now and the proof will be in the pudding when you see what is in store for you all when her website launches. Just take a look at some of her work...

Seriously sooo freakin cute!!!

So tell one and tell all and get busy!!! And Good luck

Fab Kitchens

So time flies when you have computer issues, it seems as if the whole world passes you by, since our whole world exists on the computer now. Anyways I am back and back with a vengance!!! Lately I have really been into rustic kitchens. The look is time worn brilliance in some cases, practical, a place that is inviting and looks like it is used and lived in, yet is captivating. The days of a modern sleek look has gone by the way side because any of these kitchens are by far so much more intriguing to the eye and leave me wanting to see more!! I have come across kitchens that are in my opinion just incredible. So I thought that I would show you all the pictures and list what and why I love each one!!

So here we go!!

I personally think there is no kitchen sink big enough in this world, so I absolutely love love this double sink application...take that kitchen sink making industry!! I'll take two please...or wait, maybe that is what they are trying to make us do...darn it! Kitchen sink industry, I will deal with you later!! For now brillant double sink idea!!

At this moment in time although this kitchen is beautiful, I really don't care, because the ceiling is freaking KILLER!! And topped off with the crystal chandelier A-MAZ-ING!! Killer element, it makes the whole room!!

I Love shelves in kitchens when it is done right, meaning no nic nacks people, there must be orgaization and a sence of practicality to it. This just makes me want to want to pour myself a cup of tea! I also love the big clear canisters on the butcher block counters.

Again, love the shelves with all white everyday use dishes stacked up on them with the detail of the distressed iron brackets standing out. And notice how there is at least three sets of shelves here. Going up the wall in this manner adds height to the room.

First of all the dish towl rack is awesome along side the whole distance of the island, it just needs some anthropology dish towels to make it fab. I love how they have taken an old piece of furniture and toped it off with butcher block.. yes can you believe it a touch of butcher block is hot and is very inexpensive. It is great for adding a rustic touch in your kitchen. Just don't let me catch any of you buying a portable island from ikea or walmart because it has a butcher block top on it. The touch of butcher block has to be applied correctly. I also love the touch of glass cloches with yummy confections under them. I am pretty sure if I had this in my kitchen they would spend most of their time empty due to the fact that I have an uncontrolable sugar craving and I am pretty sure my behind would grow to an unbelievable size that would not even fit through the kitchen door. Anyways one last thing in this kitchen, which is the stove, you gotta love it, it is an amazing piece!!

The kitchen island is a star in this kitchen, they used reclaimed wood to build this island. Topped off with marble and then placed on warm wood floors, leaves this kitchen looking beautiful!

This kitchen reminds me of an old European kitchen. It is so simple in design, yet so captivating and beautiful. The long skinny table paired with the perfect chairs is the focus of this kitchen. The old stove and the copper pans hanging above are just perfect.

Now this kitchen is a bit to modernized for me but you can't deny it's beauty. The baskets in the island to the shelving to the contrast of the black and white to the beams on the ceiling. It has just the right amount of rustic elements to make it shine!

I love the use of old reclaimed wood in this kitchen, on the island, for the pantry and to enclose the refrigerator. The wood floors have a coat of white on them, which is awesome because as it gets use they will soon look distressed. Most of all about this kitchen, I am really intrigued with the guy at the refrigerator, I am pretty sure I would like him to turn around and make me a sandwich!! Anyways on to the next kitchen!!

From the unfinished floors to the exposed wood beams to the industrial lighting above the island to the old refrigerator... it is just warm and comfortable.

Ok now even thought this kitchen has stainless steel appliances, countertops, and touches all over, there is soo much that counter acts all of that that leaves this kitchen stunning!!! The old wood floors, the brick walls, the herb garden in the window seal and growing in urns in the corner in a would tray, the guilded gold antique mirror and of course the chalkboard. WOW!!

This just looks like the beach side cottage retreat that I was pretty sure I was suppose to be at this summer, but instead I am still soaking up the horrid heat wave here in good 'ole Arizona. No but I do love everything about this kitchen, especially how all the white is off set by the distressed wood table.

Ok really? Is this really possible? Could this be real? If it is, I really really want to live here. Yes really I would gladly live in that pantry and be completely happy! The organization here leaves this kitchen or should I say pantry breath taking!

Really? I just can't get over this!!!

Have Your Cake And Eat It Too!!

This month is Chateau Couture's Birthday!!!! It is hard to believe that we are entering our 7th year. So in celebration what better than a sale all month long... yes you heard me right alllll month long. I will be offering 30% off of everything. This of course excludes all design fees and custom orders. Everything else is fair game!! Sale prices will not show under each product, the sale will be taken off when you checkout.

So go ahead...shop your little heart out!!

New Stuff

New Products added today...Oh happy day!! Visit my website to check them out!!

Distressed antique white door

Topiaries Galore with crystals and crowns.. oh my!!

Architectural Bliss...aaahhhh

Freakin Killer Lampshade ( for lamp or for hanging)

la di da di da di da



8x10 and 11x14 frames with crystals and glitter... seriously


Come and Get um!!!

Fresh Flowers and Living Elements Are Where It's At

Ok ya'all this conversation is long overdue with the majority of you out there that own and decorate with silk or artificial greenery and flowers. It is what every great designer knows and what a lot of people don't. "Always use real or dried/preserved flowers or elements such as moss twigs, leaves, wood, branches, etc. It is all about bringing the outside in!! Your home is filled with life so why not add that to your decor. Now I am not saying "you must be one with nature" but you cannot deny the beautiful elements this world has to offer!!


Does this look familiar to you?


This is a little know addiction of many people out there and it is a little something I like to call "Plastic Jungle Fever" Yes it is real and I know many of you suffer from this addiction. But there is help and I am offering it today!! The problem is that many of us turn to model homes to follow and decorate after, the only problem with this is nobody lives in them, hence the artificial plant life.

I once had to convince a dear friend of this who was not really sold on why this was such a big deal. When I helped her decorate her kitchen niche, more specifically, an amazing vintage buffet that we had found, I only had her get dried whispy fern and moss balls. We paired this with only white dishes against antique tarnished silver pieces. The result was nothing short of "WOW" !!!

After she saw the result she was hooked and then looked to her kitchen niches way up high and wondered how she could start replacing her artificial greenery. No joke, this was all it took for her to realize that these elements packed a major punch in her design scheme. Check out her buffet below.

Now I know you must be thinking "oh crap, all I own is silk arrangements, what the hec do I do?" And not only that " how do I afford this?" Not to fret!! There is a couple of ways to go about doing this. Lets face it I don't know of a whole lot of people who have the money to spend day in and day out on fresh flowers. You don't have to to achieve this look. Most of these elements you can find in your own backyard!! You can take branches and arrange them in a vase, you can invest in a rose bush that will provide you with beautiful flowers. As I was growing up my grandmother had the most beautiful flower garden and she would often find her favorite rose of the day, cut it and then place it in a charming crystal goblet that was from her wedding and would place it in her kitchen window seal. So there it was... for all to admire and awe. I would sit and stare and the endless beauty of this one flower. My grandmother new the secret of what just one little flower could do. This one flower had presence and demanded the attention of all who entered that kitchen, this one little flower filled the entire room, and this one little flower brought so many smiles. Now granted not all of your elements will have this kind of meaning behind them, but it is just an example of how powerful these living elements can be in adding so much more to your home.

So to get started I recomend clearing out all of the artificial greenery and floral arrangements start fresh. It will force you to think outside the box on how to replace it. I will give you several examples so it can get your mind running:

For a fireplace: Topiaries are fantastic and well as candlesticks of various heights with moss balls or place all different jars with different leaves or flowers in them for an awesome affect.

For the kitchen: place fresh fruits and vegetables from the famers market or your own garden out in a bowl or stacked on cake stands. I love nothing more than looking and fresh herbs or a bowl of lemons in a kitchen. The aroma is amazing!!

For the living room or family room: I love using taller elements for these rooms for added height. Place brances in a vase with water. Or on a coffee table use lower elements such as moss balls cut branches ( see picture below).

Use a large cut branch that looks like a small tree and place it in a room. I have even taken these branches and hung them right on the wall for a couple of my clients and they hang crystals or vintage tags from them

These elements don't have to be complicatied in design nor do they have to fill every area of your home, in fact the more simple and sparing, the more of a statement they will make!!

The photos below are just a few of the ideas I mentioned above and a few of my favorite applications. Notice how none of these overpower the room, but yet they provide a vital accent that brings the room to life!! Enjoy!!