Polyvore Monday | April 30

Polyvore Monday got a little crazy today and became more of what-I’m-obsessed-with-right-now-and-someday-want-in-a-home-because-I’m-living-out-my-childhood-fantasies…

I always wanted bunk beds.

Like, really bad.

Now that I’m an adult, I want an entire room devoted to bunk beds. How fun would that be? I would sleep in there for sure.

I don’t know what it is about bunk beds, but it seems like every kid loves them.

Now that I’m adult and enjoy design, I think I like bunk beds and bunk rooms even more. Each bed is like a separate part of the room that can be designed according to each child. 4 different beds can have 4 completely different styles, yet still manage to complement each other and work well in the same space. Plus, they are so so cozy! It’s like your own little niche away from the rest of the world.

Here are a few of my favorites from Houzz:

traditional bedroom design by other metros architect Locati Architects

I love the camp-like feel of this one, with the sinks right there in the same room. Bonus! With double beds on the bottom bunk, there’s room for even more!

contemporary kids design by chicago interior designer SemelSnow Interior Design, Inc.

The nautical look of this room is so clean and airy. Plus, the lights in each bunk allow for some to stay up without disturbing others.

mediterranean bedroom design by austin design-build JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

The curtains on these bunks remind me of a tour bus, yet somehow they work. Drawers under the bottom bunks allow for extra storage in a room where all the wall space is being used. You could also have false drawers there and make it into a trundle to allow room for a few more kiddos.

contemporary kids design by salt lake city interior designer Lynsey Humphrey

This is, by far, the coziest bunk room I have ever seen. Less cabin-like and more retreat-like! How can you not picture 4 girls enjoying their first sleepover, painting their nails and giggling into the wee hours of the night? This room is the perfect combination of color, light, and space.

traditional bedroom design by other metros architect Locati Architects

Another rustic bunk room that feels more like the boys cabin with its thick wood, defined lines, dark colors, and exposed beams. Still inviting none-the-less.

traditional kids design by denver general contractor Highline Partners, Ltd

Is this not the perfect rec room for teenagers? I love the way stone was incorporated into the space, plus the wall-washers that flood the rock on the bunk wall make the texture pop.

…not exactly Polyvore Monday today, but it still works!

And in case you were wondering, I did not forget about the freebie for followers that I mentioned in my post on Friday. Things got a little hectic this weekend and those 48 hours went way quicker than I was hoping. If you are a follower, check your e-mail within the next 24 hours, I promise there will be something fun from me. If you’re not a follower, consider becoming one to get all the latest and greatest from Design by Lulu!

As of Late

Let me start by saying WOW! Your response to last week’s Freebie Friday has blown me away! I’m so thankful for all the nice comments, re-pins on Pinterest, and downloads. How encouraging to know that so many women are praying for the men in their life.

My computer has been a little wonky and isn’t allowing me to open iPhoto, hence the lack of tutorials/photos/posts. So here’s our life the past couple of days via iPhone and iPad.

| Loving the fact that Target now carries Washi tape & hoping to make a project out of it this weekend |

| Spending time with family on a special 5 year-olds birthday, the best way we can |

| Baking monster cookies … can we all agree that monster cookie dough is the best looking and so colorful? |

| Finishing my first set of 300 wedding invitations for a client |

| Working on an accent wall |

| Taking advantage of the sunshine and playing tennis at the most ghetto courts ever … seriously |

| Enjoying Goose’s first trip to the beach …  she loved it! |

| Admiring the new art prints over at Minted |

Enjoy your weekend!

P.S. Are you a follower of this blog? If not, consider following along! Followers receive notifications first of new posts, giveaways, and freebies, + they may or may not be getting a special freebie in their inbox this weekend…

Peace.

Coffee Filter Flower Bouquet

Recently, I came across | this | and | this | on Pinterest, both are adorable, simple, and inexpensive. Since I’m throwing a baby shower for my sister-in-law next month, I wanted to try my hand at them before I actually made an entire wreath.

(The more projects I do, the more I’m realizing that it really is a smart idea to try something before you invest hours and hours into a project, only to have it turn out looking like crap).

So that’s exactly what I did, and I’m pleasantly surprised with the results, flowers that stay pretty year round!

I pretty much did exactly what those 2 tutorials say to do, only I wanted big, full flowers, so I used 6 filters per flower, and I didn’t dye mine. More pictures to come, I just wanted to share a sneak peek!

What are you working on today?

Polyvore Monday | April 23

I’m a little late in posting Polyvore Monday today. We went to the coast for the weekend, and the weather was too beautiful to be inside on the computer. Plus, when I woke up this morning, I felt like I’d been hit by a bus.

Who gets a head cold in April? This girl.

The mixture of NyQuil and only a few hours of sleep the night before left me wondering which way was up when I woke up this morning. Not to worry, I’m feeling much better now after another sunny day, tea, and even some fresh strawberries this morning. So let’s go!

In my dream world, our kitchen would look like this:

contemporary kitchen design by seattle interior designer Shuffle Interiors

contemporary kitchen design by seattle interior designer Shuffle Interiors

But this is reality, and let’s be honest, chances are, my kitchen will never look exactly like that (there’s no way I could ever talk the hubby into an all-white kitchen).

I do love our kitchen and all the space it provides, but it could use a little pick-me-up, here’s my idea: (click on the image to be redirected to Polyvore and see the sources)

kitchen & dining by designbylulu on polyvore.com

That banquette from World Market I love! Throw some pillows on it that you can change with the season, plus it’s  not only functional, but cute.

The art is also from World Market and adds a nice punch of color. I’m trying to figure out:

1) if I like the silverware idea or if it’s cheesy;

2) how I could somehow make that myself.

I’m loving the navy/yellow/and gray color scheme right now. It’s a little bit modern, a little bit nautical, and perfect for spring. If only I had the courage to do a bold navy on our walls.

The ‘Beat It’ print is super fun, but right now, I have | these | hanging by our pantry.

Every kitchen needs a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. In so many pretty colors, it’s hard to pick just one, but the silver is timeless.

I adore that kitchen cart from Ikea even more now that I saw | this | makeover. Such a fun way to add storage to a kitchen with little space.

Those mixing bowls from Crate & Barrel are my absolute favorite!

This Amy Butler rug by Chandra would be fun under the dining room table, and dark enough to hide any spills.

Freebie Friday | April 20

UPDATED! A new version is now available | here |

“In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

Ephesians 6:18 (The Message)

Today’s freebie is something I wish I’d found a long time ago.

When Ian and I were first dating, I knew the importance of prayer, but had no idea how to pray for him.

And so I began to ask the Lord to show me how to pray for this man.

Fast forward 5 years, and I came across | this | on Pinterest.

And then I made my own version. A version that is now taped to my mirror, in my journal, and my dashboard.

Whether you’re married, have brothers, or just want to pray for the men in your life, this is such a great reminder of a few of the ways, as women, we can pray for them.

I hope you find this as useful as I do! There are 2 versions, one for us married gals, and one that has been tweaked to make sense for men whom you love, but aren’t married to.

I encourage you to use this as an outline, there are plenty of other ways to pray for the men in your life.