DIY Tutorial: Make a Drab Lamp Fab!

I have been crushing on a gold desk lamp for months. While I was cleaning out my basement, I found a white desk lamp that I was about to toss. Fireworks went off in my head and I suddenly had a bigger grin on my face than the Grinch before Christmas. My gold desk lamp wish is FINALLY coming true..

It was the perfect shaped lamp to spray gold. I dusted off the lamp and cleaned it up. I grabbed all my old newspapers and ran outside. I eagerly sprayed the lamp with Gold Metallic Rustoleum Spray paint. After 15 minutes, and two coats of spray paint later... my gold lamp was complete !!

CALL TO ACTION

- What do you think of the finished result?

- What have you been crushing on lately?

- If you can't buy it, can you DIY it?

- What fun DIY projects are you working on?

COMMENT BELOW! I would love to hear from you. :)

Can't get enough of DIY? Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

http://www.pinterest.com/byamadesigns/

Not your #Basic Nighstand

Welcome to the No Basic Zone! Say Goodbye to the ordinary nightstand and Hello to unique! Here are 10 unconventional nightstands that add a little extra character and charm to your bedroom. 1. LADDER

2. NESTING TABLES

3. SHELF

4. STEP STOOL

5. SWING

6. TRUNK

7. CONSOLE TABLE

8. RECLAIMED WOOD

9. CHEST OF DRAWERS

10. CINDER BLOCK (Why not?)

Stray away from standard. Are you willing to be daring with your next nighstand? Which nightstand style was your favorite? Share your comment below, I would love to know! My favorite is the vintage trunk. Love the extra storage that it can pack - great for seasonal items.

Here's the Story behind AMA Designs

I have always had the dream of helping people growing up. Instead of being a nurse or a therapist, I chose the creative route which came natural to me. As a child, my perspective was very different than the rest of the kids in my class. During playdates, I would walk into my friends rooms, open up their toy closet and say, "Oh no, this should go here. This should go there....." Until I began to fully reorganize their entire closet. My mother would receive phone calls after playdates, "Amanda can come over anytime! She completely redid my living room and it looks great."

It wasn't until that moment that I realized what I was doing was actually changing how people felt and functioned on a day-to-day. It clicked - I really was helping people!

I always knew I wanted to be an Interior Designer at a very young age. It's weird to think that my decision has not changed since I was six years old. My friends were dreaming of becoming a Princess and I was too busy designing Barbie's Dream House. I never really cared for dolls. I loved playing with blocks and making forts with all the blankets and chairs we owned in the house.

Today, I continue to help people with their interiors both aesthetically and functionally. Sometimes I feel like the creative-version of a therapist. There has been plenty of times where I would walk into a bedroom and it just feels lifeless. Although, the owner was so *energetic* and *bold*. I believe your home should be a reflection of yourself. Bring your personality into your space and let it shine! My job is to help people define their space by bringing out reflections of their personality and also making their house feel like a home <3. You are unique and your home should have as much character as you do!

If you want to see some of my work, feel free to check out my portfolio. I am also very active on social media. Visit the Follow page for direct links to all my pages. Let's be friends :)

This post was inspired by Alex Beadon's Feel Good Blogging Challenge Day #2.

Not-So Shabby, Shabby Chic

Distressed furniture, antique decor, and linen fabrics OOZE Shabby Chic style. Shabby chic is the sister-style to coastal chic, cottage decor, and french country. It is the blend of furnishings that are chosen for their aged appearance, elegant antiques and a soft color palette. My personal style is totally chic/stylish/glam than it is Shabby. Hence why I am sharing how to create a NOT-SO Shabby Chic Interior with my 5 Easy decorating tips:

1) COLOR - The color palette in a shabby chic interior is generally neutral. Colors tend to be pure white, ecrus, and faded out hues such as blush pink, soft blues, and pale green. The soft color scheme provides a neutral background to allow your vintage pieces speak for themselves. (Yes, furniture speaks to me :P )

2) PATTERN - When I think of "Shabby Chic," instantly what comes to my mind is vintage florals and a classic ticking stripe pattern. You can also add toile or chinoiserie patterns (two-tone cotton or line fabric with a scenic pattern: toile is French/chinoiserie is Chinese).

   

3) TEXTURE - I love playing with texture when it comes to fabric. To recreate the feel of shabby chic decor, incorporate cotton and linen fabrics. Since both these fabrics have a flat texture, I would personally add quilted fabrics and crocheted blankets that are soft to touch and make you want to snuggle! :) For storage, add wicker baskets or a wicker storage ottoman.

    

4) LIGHTING - Add vintage chandeliers or period inspired candlesticks on a bedside table. If you are feeling crafty, I would spray paint a vintage chandelier in a soft pink or mint for a pop of color.

  

5) DECOR - Now for the fun part; accessories! Go thrifting and find antique picture frames, a fabulous antique mirror, a gold side chair, distressed accent tables, old books, and trinkets to take your space to the next level.

   

This weeks blog post was HIGHLY requested! Do you LOVE a certain style but don't know how to achieve it? Drop a comment below or email byamadesigns@gmail.com on what topics you want to read next. Ask and you shall receive! I would love to hear from you. :)

Hope your day is as AWESOME as you are!

Much love,

AMA DESIGNS

** Remember, if you like this post - SHARE IT :) **

5 Ways to Create the Perfect Gallery

1) Choose your Color Palette - Stick to one color or a few. Establishing a color scheme will give a more cohesive look. You can still experiment with different styles of art if the colors relate with each other. Another way to create a more unified gallery wall is to use the same color frame or matte your art the same. After you identify your color scheme and frame style, it's time to start planning how you want your pictures to hang. Lay out your frames on the floor and start planning.

2) RULE OF THIRDS - Choose three of your favorite pieces. One large, one medium, and one large frame. Place the small and medium photos on one side and the large photo on the other side to create balance. the Matte your photo to add more dimension and unity.

 3) ALIGNED - There are two different ways to go about this look. For pieces that are all of the same size, hang items all in a row. If your pictures are different sizes, align either the tops of all the pictures or the bases.

4) GRID-LIKE - Create a grid using your favorite photos by evenly spacing photos.

5) GET CREATIVE - Go wild! Mix and match photos and frame sizes. Display items in a whichever way that pleases you!

You can even choose one of these styles too! Have fun creating your perfect gallery. Tag your pictures with #amadesigns so I could see what style you chose!

5 Ways to Create the BEST Dorm

It's back to school season and it's time to move into your dorm. Enhance your space this year with 5 easy tips: 1) A Few Accessories Go a Long Way! Add color and style to your space by adding artsy pillows, faux potted plants, and add a pouf ottoman for color and additional seating.

2) A Little Piece of Home. Frame pictures of your friends and family and create a gallery wall. Purchase vintage frames from a thrift store and spray paint them in bright colors to add more color to your space. Hang your frames randomly or in a grid for visual interest.

3) Boost up Your Bed! Add bed risers to allow for more storage under your bed. Check out these bed risers from Bed Bath and Beyond that have power outlets in them! Perfect for plugging in your laptop during late nights of crunching deadlines.

4) Cheer Up your Desk Space. Display inspirational quotes, your favorite pictures, and even your dream travel destination near your desk to brighten up your mood when hard at work. Purchase desk accessories such as folders, notebooks, and pencil holders in your favorite color to boost creativity.

5) Perk Up Boring Walls! If you have white walls and cannot paint, don't feel limited. You can perk up your boring walls with removable wallpaper sheets that can be found at Target or Urban Outfitters. If you are feeling crafty, you can create your own back drop using an old white sheet, a stencil, and your favorite color paint! Place the stencil on the sheet and apply paint using a roller. You can even use tape to create a custom design. Once the paint dries, hang your backdrop to create an accent wall!

After a days worth of class, your dorm should feel relaxing and inviting - After all, you deserve it!

If you LOVE this post, share it with your friends ! :) For more decorating tips, follow AMA Designs on Facebook and Instagram! (click the direct link)

Design Tip: The DO's of Home Shopping

When shopping for your home, items can add up quickly! I believe that you shouldn't cut corners in the wrong places. So where should you invest and where should you save? The do's of purchasing for your home.

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/875193/Tarrytown-remodel-contemporary-family-room-austin]

DO Invest in Better Furniture: Use your best judgement - invest in the rooms that you use everyday this way you can enjoy them for years to come! That means purchasing a well constructed sofa that you won't have to replace after a year. The cushion contraction and the frame are important. Check the construction of drawers when looking for your bedroom or office. Dovetail drawers are the best - it is the interlocking grooves that hold the sides of the drawer together (rather than glue). 

SAVE: In areas of your home that aren't used as frequently or on items that are solely for decorative purposes like accent tables or console tables. Anything with drawers that you will opening and closing frequently should be of better quality.

DO Purchase Quality Carpet: For high traffic areas, I believe purchasing a higher quality carpet is pertinent. Investing in stair runners will be worth the investment for years to come.

SAVE: In certain situations, an inexpensive area rug will do the job.  For example, rugs in kids rooms are most likely to be replaced so an inexpensive rug is more ideal. 

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DO Invest in Custom Window Treatments: Using the word "custom" may scare you, but don't be afraid. It really depends on the material you use and the style you are trying to achieve. More intricate designs that include, trim, swags, pleats, valances, etc. will cost more. I like to high my curtain rod higher to the ceiling to elongate the height of the space so typically, stock curtains run a little short. If you are savvy with a sewing machine you can add a pretty base fabric or buy super long curtains and hem the bottom. I am not that savvy.... but I encourage anyone who is to try! :)

I have a very large kitchen window and standard size blinds would not fit. I opted to invest in faux wood blinds from JcPenny (which has an awesome window treatment department). If you open up a credit card, you can save more money plus they generally have sales and coupons. 

I love these top down bottom up shades in this Tribeca penthouse. It adds privacy but doesn't hide the beautiful view of the city.

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/204956/Tribeca-penthouse-contemporary-living-room-new-york]

DO shopping at Yard sales, Estate sales, Thrift Stores, Consignment Shops, and Discount Stores: I can't tell you how many garage sales I have visited or thrift stores I have stopped at. I visited the nearest Goodwill and found a coffee table for $5 that was solid hardwood ----- $5!!!! It needed to be sanded and stained but it had great lines and it was solid furniture. I love finding items and adding my own personal style to it.

Need help with other areas of your home? Please comment what you need help with. I am always willing to help and most of the time your questions turn into blog topics! So don't be shy!!

and remember.... if you like this post, SHARE it :)

Yours truly,

AMA DESIGNS

From my Notepad ... To Reality

To you, this may be just an empty room. Well, it is.

However to me, it means so much more than an empty space. I love this profession because my visions become reality. There is nothing more gratifying then seeing your sketches come to life !

This may be just an empty room but the stages to get to this point were bumpy! It's rewarding to see progress and comforting to know that we are only a few steps away from completion !!

I am so excited to share with you all! Plus, I hand painted artwork specially for this space!! :)

For progress pictures, visit the "Portfolio" Tab to view more of this project.

Have an amazing day!