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Decorating: The Details Matter

February 19, 2016

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When it comes to decorating your home, the details do matter. Don't settle for less than perfect.

I say, if you can't find the right accessory on the shelf, you can make it right with a quick, inexpensive and easy swap.

Decorating: The Details Matter text over photo of candlesticks and dishes on plate rack

When it comes to decorating, I have always firmly believed that the devil is in the details.

If you don't believe me, watch any renovation show. It's all about the reveal.

You know, the part of the episode where they show the finished room.

You've already seen most of the space by then, but the real drama and style is provided by the furniture and the accessories.

Details.

In my own spaces, I generally have a pretty good idea of the pieces I'm looking for before I start shopping.

I don't really know exactly how I make my decor decisions, I have no formal training, other than my very limited art background. I just go with my gut.

I can feel it when things are right.

My stomach tells me immediately when something is off, too.

And yet.

The other day I was in the shower and while washing my hair, I suddenly spied a green ribbon in my blue and white bathroom.

(Ironic aside here...my bathroom is now green...again!) 

Wooden flower wreath with green ribbon

My stomach ached.

What? Where did this green come from?

Has that ribbon always been green? How long has this interloper been there and why hadn't I noticed it before?

Green ribbon wreath hanger

Oh my gosh ~ was I slipping? I'm all about decorating.

And this room had a clear calling. Blue and white.

Blue and white
.

Blue and white bathroom

It came from the fabric I found in the discount store a few years ago.

The master bath was blah, it needed a kick and this fabric, although not red, I know, called to me.

Blue paisley box pleat curtain with blue fringe

I whipped up a box pleat valance and then proceeded to add the appropriate pieces to finish my very clean, two color design.

I started with towels and the proper color tissue box (don't get me started!).

Bright blue tissue box on a toilet tank

I had a vision.

I mean people, I even chose our toothpaste to match.

3D white toothpage

How did this green ribbon go unnoticed for so long?

Granted, it wasn't that bad, but once I thought about it, it was all I could see.

Blue and white bathroom decor

It had to go.

Luckily, the fix was super easy. I knew that I would have a blue ribbon in my craft armoire and I did.

Ribbons in plastic bags

First, I removed the ribbon, price tag still attached.

I know, it's a sickness...

Green and blue ribbon on counter with scissors

...and replaced it with the new one, using the old ribbon as a guide for size.

Blue ribbon wreath hanger on wooden floral wreath

Crisis averted. 

While I would never take the time to make this particular wreath, too labor intensive, swapping out the ribbon was the simplest way for me to get exactly what I needed.

Ok, wanted.

I do this a lot actually, combining store bought items with a quick DIY, to reach my desired goal.

My living room curtains are a perfect example, so is my birdhouse lamp.

Most recently, I transformed a rather boring wreath I picked up on sale, into a showstopper.

I often see people pass up items on the shelf, because a small detail is off.

It's close to what they want, but it needs a small tweak, so they leave it behind.

I think that's a big mistake. Yes, details matter.

They're what differentiates a good room from a great one, but getting things just right, doesn't have to be an arduous journey.

You can add pom pom fringe to plain curtains, a furniture transfer to a clear glass vase, or a little wallpaper to a thrift store tray.

Brass Candlesticks on Wallpapered Tray

You see, I'm a firm believer that a little bit of paint and a few glue sticks, for example, can transform that sweet little frog into the prince of accessories in no time flat.

Just like my wreath and that silly green ribbon.

With a teeny tweak, I have exactly what I want.

Phew. That was close.

Now all is right in the bathroom again.

Order has been restored and my stomach feels much better.

And I'm off to grab a snack.

😉

Are you detail oriented?


Kim Signature


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  1. Omg!! I can totally picture you washing your hair and suddenly noticing a GREEN ribbon? What?! Lol! I can relate, how did that dven pass the test! I also agree whole heartedly about passing things up because it isn't quite right, believe me if the price is great and I can fix it....I buy it! I will actually be posting an example of that real soon!

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    1. Oh, I can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve, Rhonda!! :)

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  2. Oh, Kim, this is so funny. When you first mentioned the green ribbon and showed the first pictures,the first thing that I thought of is that perhaps you didn't notice the ribbon because it could kind of look like a leaf or stem for the flowers in the wreath. You would have a field day at my house. Nothing matches. My front room (living at one end and dining at the other) has three different stains of wood furniture, two colors of painted furniture and the walls are three different colors. There are two different prints on the sofa and loveseat, the only upholstered pieces in the room. Hope you have a good weekend.

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    1. Lorri, I did not notice and I don't know why...like I said, must be slipping! ;) I love a mismatched look when it comes to wood and fabric. I mix it up and that makes me happy. When it comes to adding color, in my old age, I seem to prefer just two...three tops...in a space. I like a clean look. The blue makes me happy, but you know what? It might just be time to change that bathroom up again. I hope I remember the ribbon this time! ;)

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  3. Okay Kim, now you've got me scrutinizing every corner of my living room (where I'm sitting as I read your blog) to see what I've been overlooking for the past 6 months. Oh, never mind. I'm going to bed. Fiddledy-dee, I'll think about that tomorrow. Hugs, Nancy P.S. Cute post. Funny, clever, and just a tiny bit OCD. {wink}

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    1. Oh Scarlett O'Hara...how many times I say that to myself! ;) And glad you liked the post, your comment is just what I was going for!!

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  4. Glue guns are so handy, though I hate burning my fingers. I never mastered it. xoxo Su

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    1. I have a lot of burned finger stories, Su. I’m not so great at it either! :)

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  5. Too funny!!
    Now you've made me curious, and I am off to check those links!!

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    1. I hope you find more to make you laugh!! :)

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  6. Ha, always thinking about our decor, I'm the same exact way. It's a sickness that I don't want a cure for. ;) Happy weekend my friend.

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    1. Me neither! It’s my passion, although sometimes I think my husband would be thrilled if I was cured! ;)

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  7. You just cracked me UP with that arrow pointing to the ribbon in the mirror etc.

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  8. You are right! Details do matter. My thing is anything that is not straight on a wall! A crooked picture drives me crazy. I have even been known to straighten a picture in a restaurant! Lol. I do get some strange looks when I do for sure!

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    1. Lynn that bothers me, as well. My mom was like that. Drove her nuts. She was a restaurant straightener, too!! ;)

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  9. now see....
    i rather liked the happy surprise of the unique and brave little green ribbon among all that blue and white!
    or better yet... dare i say it? the ever brilliant pop of beloved...
    wait for it...
    cherry RED?
    LOLOLOL!!!
    another delightful post.
    xo♥

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    1. It was a brave little ribbon, Tammy, a true scene stealer. I liked it for a bit, but then again, I favor a clean look, two colors in a room and so that green had to go! ;) Never fear though, I didn't throw him away...he's tucked in the cabinet for a day of resurrection or reincarnation. I haven't decided yet!

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  10. Oh Kim, you are too much! The green ribbon looked fine but it's nice to make changes like you do and the blue ribbon now matches perfectly! Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
    Julie xo

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    1. Haha! It’s those silly little details that get my attention, Julie. The laundry piles should bother me that much! ;) Well…actually, they do, too!!

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  11. So funny Kim and I can totally relate. I usually notice things like your green ribbon when I am taking photos. Great fix--crisis averted and yes I was hungry and am munching on Girl Scout thin mints ;)

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  12. I know just how you feel, when something needs to "fit" in. I am pretty much the same with things, and DH will often say to me when I have to have/change something a "certain" way "It was driving you nuts, wasn't it" Sometimes he thinks I'm nuts also.....Can't be helped.

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    1. I totally get it, Bonnie! My husband teases me, too, but that's ok, my blog friends understand!! ;)

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  13. You had me on the floor! And when you mentioned the blue and white bathroom I knew exactly where this was going! You'll be happy to know that you're not alone in your obsessions. But I have to tell you Kim the blue toothpaste takes the cake.

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    1. I know...the toothpaste is a bit much! I tried to keep it in the cabinet, but my husband wasn't having it, so a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! ;) Glad you got a chuckle, Mary!!

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  14. *giggles* So happy you changed the ribbon…..I also could see where this post was headed….and I agree that the devil is in the details, or God, probably!!!

    I needed a smile today and this post made me smile!

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    1. Providing giggles and smiles is my goal, so you just made me smile and giggle! Thanks!! :)

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  15. You're too cute, Kim! I'm glad you slayed that dragon....those are the kinds of things that wreck havoc in my OCD mind. The way I decide on decor for a room is rather multi-faceted. I get inspiration from Pinterest (got to be the Devil's workshop....lol) or magazines & start jotting down ideas. Now this is the biggie, I get complete pictures in my mind of how it's going to look and all the details of how to go about it. Weird, huh? I do that with sewing projects, too, but sometimes that's a bit more difficult to translate to paper and then to fabric. Anyway, hope you can now have a great weekend....no more green ribbon to trouble your mind!

    Warm hugs,
    Carol

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    1. Thanks Carol! I’m glad that you enjoyed this post. Yes, that design OCD gets me every single time. I’m not sure what I enjoy more, though, slaying the decorating dragons or writing the silly tales about it! ;)

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  16. This is so funny because it is so true! How long have you looked at stuff and finally one day it all turns your stomach?! Literally. Unfortunately I have three huge places in my house that are doing that to me right now. My husband thinks there are other priorities....his stomach is not turning! I love the blue and white you chose for your bathroom....my kitchen colors!

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    1. Oh, I have been there. I remember when the kids were young and I was home with them all day starting at a problem space. It bothered me enormously. My husband, however, was at work and out of sight was out of mind…plus, like you said, his priorities and mine were often totally different! Good luck with your places~ I hope you find a quick fix!

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  17. I'm a red girl too, but am obsessed with blue and white right now, especially navy.

    Your bathroom is pretty, and I would totally change the ribbon out as well!

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    1. Thanks Deanna! It's a fun room to decorate, because it's small and doesn't take much and the base is white. I have been able to indulge my sense of color whimsy in that room...leaving the red virtually everywhere else! ;) Thanks for the visit!

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  18. The ribbon story is SO funny! I also choose my Kleenex box based on the color and pattern, lol. Sometimes the store will be out of the color I want and there will only be brown or some other off color or pattern left and I feel defeated. ;-)

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    1. Defeated, yes! I was actually in the grocery store yesterday on the hunt and I thought about your comment. I left thinking, I won! ;)

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  19. Well written! I know, when something "is off" I can't rest till I rectify the situation.
    Brenda

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  20. Hee Hee
    I love it. And I do know exactly what you mean. I have been on the way to do something. And I saw something out of order in the decor. MUST FIX RIGHT AWAY!! All else stops. Hee Hee!

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    1. Exactly Carla! Plus I get a little creative fix along the way!

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  21. That is funny. I also try to match things in our house. Love the kleenex box. I do love my red....Glad you changed the ribbon, so much better....LOL

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    1. I am a stickler about those tissues, Linda. It's a sickness! ;)

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  22. Of course I had to go back to all your old posts that you linked back to....you just amaze me, lady, with your talents....your incredible writing alone draws me in but your DIY's are pretty darned awesome also!! And I can't believe you didn't notice the green ribbon before now...I picked it up ages ago, you must be slipping!! Haha only kidding....:)

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    1. Thank you, Debbie. You are super sweet and just made me smile! :) And I must be slipping, because that ribbon has been there for a LONG time!

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  23. I love the blue and white ... I can see how that little bit of green can annoy!

    Enjoy the rest of the weekend

    All the best Jan

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  24. You're so right about the gut feeling! People underestimate their gut feelings all too often. I tell my boys all the time to "trust your gut" with all kinds of situations (jobs, school, friends) Oh the Kleenex box issue...I could tell you stories about the few times they were out of the matching colors for my bathrooms. The horror, I tell ya! :) I still have to remind myself all the time not to pass up a decor item just because one thing is wrong. I need to remember the power of paint, ribbon, etc. Loved this post!

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    1. Lisa, you are so right, I tell my kids to follow their gut all the time. I sometimes forget to do that myself. Of course, in decorating the consequences are not a really big deal ~ although they should be ;) ~ in real life they can be. I have to get better about that! :)

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  25. Your blue and white bathroom is very pretty, Kim. Yes, details are important, but sometimes, I've had to wait to make things right, usually due to budgeting. Of course, a ribbon 'reno' will not make a dent in one's pocket, so it depends on the size, cost, level of difficulty, I guess of the amendment. Glad you go your appetite back!

    Poppy

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    1. Haha! Thanks Poppy, I am eating again! ;) You are correct, the ribbon reno will not dent my budget at all and that is the best kind of detail update!

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  26. You are very clever and truly have an eye for detail!! Love your color choices! I went to the link of your living room. Gorgeous!!! Wonder where you got the beautiful sofa and love seat. We are in need to go shopping for new sofa/loveseat soon. I like all the ways you decorate!!

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    1. Thank you, Angela! You are very kind. The sofa and loveseat were purchased at a local retailer, but they are sold by Klaussner. I am not certain exactly which sofa it was, it resembles the Audrey. It is not slipcovered (I’m lazy and I knew I would never remove and wash), but it spot cleans very well. Good luck with your shopping and thanks so much for the visit! :)

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  27. Good Morning Kim,

    I am home and enjoying catching up with everyone. Your adventures, writing and talents always bring joy to my days.
    So glad you changed out the ribbon!
    xo
    Jemma

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    1. I’m glad my little ribbon tale could make you smile! Thanks for the visit, Jemma! :)

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  28. Thank you so much, Teri! I try to infuse my home decor "dilemmas" with a little bit of humor. I'm glad they make you smile!! :)

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  29. I couldn't agree with you more Kim! Too often, when we see the big picture, we appreciate it right away, but when we see the same room without the little details, it doesn't look fantastic at all!

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  30. Okay...so I will let my husband know I am not the only one that does this kind of thing. Your story is hilarious!! I was laughing the whole time...guess that means I am laughing at myself too :)

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    1. Laughter is awesome and I have to laugh at myself, otherwise I would cry!! ;) Glad you found the humor in this post!
      :)

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  31. Oh no an interloper!! Glad you spotted and fixed that darn thing!

    I have a tassel that has been with me since I first began blogging. It was a gift from a gal who no longer blogs. The colors didn't match my space and it was bugging me. I was so inspired by all of your craftiness that I took that thing apart and studied it. Then redid it in the correct colors. Maybe I'll post it. :) You really do inspire.

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  32. A little thing like that could drive me nuts too. I like finding things that are almost perfect and taking them home to make them my style/look/color. To me gives the piece more meaning. Enjoyed your story and but I'm not one for matchy mathy makes me feel stressed? As long as everything looks good together that's OK by me! Love the blues!

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    1. I agree...altering it to make it my own really is important! I like the mix and match look, too, especially when it comes to furniture and fabric...the more patterns the better!!

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  33. LOL! I wonder if the moisture in the bathroom may have turned it a different color? I notice strange things can happen like that in bathrooms. At any rate, your very blue beautiful ribbon looks awesome, and how wonderful that a simple change out of ribbon settled your stomach {grin} Have a great day Kim! Your posts are always a joy to read :)

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    1. I am so glad that you always find a smile when reading my posts. I am happy to document my projects and decorating OCD, but making people laugh, sharing words that bring joy, that is my ultimate goal!! So you just made me smile! Thank you so much for this comment! ❤️

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  34. Life is details. Your interior is full of life ))) Blue and white are wonderful contrast combination.

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    1. What a lovely sentiment, thank you, Chloe!! :)

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  35. Happy Thoughts of Home on Thursday sweet Kim.

    I love that you linked your blue and white obsessive thoughts with us. :)

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    1. Thanks Stacey! I'm glad to among friends who can appreciate my brand of crazy!! ;)

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  36. I did the same thing that Nancy did.... looked around for things that needed to be changed LOL In fact, speaking of bathrooms, I have a pink, white, yellow thing going on in the one upstairs and Annie placed a red bottle of lotion on the little white shelf and it kinda bugs me, but she'll never put it away, so I try to ignore it LOL I don't go so far as to match my toothpaste though ;)

    xoxo,
    your OCD partner in crime

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    1. Truth be told, I got lucky with the toothpaste, it was on sale…but ever since, I’ve stuck to that brand. OCD for sure!! :)

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  37. Such cute ideas! :) Love the wreath!

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  38. The new ribbon looks great. I can understand why it had to go. Your bathroom is blue and white! Great story Kim!

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    1. Thank you, Ronda. Glad you enjoyed my ribbon tale! :)

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  39. Sometimes we fail to see what's right in front of us. I think you can now be a ribbon brand ambassador Kim! Just look at what a difference it makes, and I'm sure your bathroom, especially your toothpaste, is happy now :).

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    1. Thanks Doreen! Yeah…that toothpaste. This decorating thing I have is a special brand of OCD, huh? ;)

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