Monday, May 8, 2017

A Calming and Beautiful Sitting Room




We were very excited when we were asked to furnish and style the newly remodeled Salt River Orthopedics Logan Clinic. With this space we strove for a calming and beautiful place to sit and relax using the concepts of feng shui.

When you are injured and need to go to a doctor's office, you already have anxiety. Our goal with this space was to reduce that anxiety and create a calming atmosphere. In a calm and confident environment you are more likely to trust those who can heal you, and subconsciously allow your body to start the healing process within itself. It was important to us to provide a sense of calm and comfort, hope and ease right off the bat to be the first step in the healing process. By using calming colors, a balance of nature's elements, and timeless furnishings we were able to achieve this goal.

We were very pleased how beautiful the space turned out.







Let us help you with your space. Design packages starting at $99 per room!
Call Lori 208.766.3361



Need window coverings? We do that too! We specialize in the full line of Hunter Douglas window treatments from wood blinds to shutters to roller shades and more! Award winning energy efficiency and a lifetime guarantee! Plus we always try to give our customers a great discount of up to 30% off!

Call now to schedule your free in-home consultation
208.766.3361


Wednesday, April 26, 2017

A Little Fun Inspiration

I recently discovered these fun oil paintings by Kimberly Applegate and have fallen in love with them! I've always loved cute little accent chairs and she's found a way to make them extra fun by adding cute animals sitting on them. There is just about an animal for every type of person, too - pandas, pigs, geese, pink flamingos, butterflies, bears, you name it! They are just so cute, and 6 x 8" prints are only $22! for that price we can create a hole gallery wall! Wouldn't it be so cute!

Here are a few for inspiration today. I hope they bring you as much joy as they bring me!








For more adorable art pieces from Kimberly Applegate check out my Pinterest board.
If you would like to buy one (or two or three) of these pieces visit her etsy shop!

Have a great day!
~Kara

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

A Fresh Clean Color for A Refreshing New Year



This color couldn't be more perfect for this year! The world needs to simplify and refresh. We need to be aware of how so much over production, over stimulus, stress, and 'stuff' drag us down rather than lift us up, and the impact it has on the environment as well. I talked about cleaning and simplifying our homes and how important that is in this post. Here's another fantastic article from Motherly on the same topic titled "How Getting Rid of Stuff Saved My Motherhood" Read it here. You'll be glad you did. 

Starting fresh first requires getting rid of all the stuff that you don't really want, certainly don't need, don't even use, forgot you even had, garbage that somehow managed to park itself in your house for the past several years, gifts you don't really like but feel guilty getting rid of, clothes you don't wear, 'friends' on social media that don't inspire you, etc, etc..... Take a breath. Just breathe for a second. Enjoy that beautiful calming green that pulls us into beautiful nature....breathe. Ah. That's better. Now that we've got all that 'stuff'' off our chests, don't you feel so much better! I know I do, or I will, once I get rid of all this unnecessary stuff for good. And I will. I can't take it anymore. I need more of this green, this fresh air, this lightness!

We've put together a display of beautiful products in this lovely 'greenery' shade. If you love this color, if your home needs a little refresh, if this brings you joy, stop on in today and let us help you find something lovely for your home. Mention this post and we'll even give you 20% off!


Now go get started! Get rid of stuff! Clear your homes! Clear the air! 
Add some Greenery in your life!

~Kara

Need a little extra help making your space look amazing?






Wednesday, January 18, 2017

My Debut Novel The Willow's Secret!


Live on Amazon!

I'm so excited to announce the release of my first novel The Willow's Secret! It's been a life long dream for me to be a published author, and now it's happening!

Here's the Synopsis:

When Reagan Walker, a zealous young college student, makes the last minute decision to go home during the school break, she ends up getting far more than she bargained for.  With her father three months in the grave and her mother still struggling to regain her footing she expects it to be a quiet couple of weeks. Turns out she couldn't have been more wrong.

 First, Tommy Bradshaw reappears in her life giving her fiance a run for his money. Then she and her aunts stumble into a mystery that has Reagan questioning her mother's devotions and her true parentage.  Will Reagan be able to discover the truth about her mother? Did she have a secret lover? Who was her real father? And who will end up winning her own heart? All these secrets are revealed in this poignant tale of true love and second chances under the branches of an old willow tree.

Here's what people are saying:

 "I couldn't put it down. It is wonderful! I love how the book flows and how you tell the story with both the mom and her daughter. My favorite part was how you tied Bram into the story line at the end. I hope that you keep writing because I would love to read another one of your books!" ~KM
"This book was so fun and I got sucked right into the story!" ~DA
"I'm reading it now! It definitely pulls you in. Loving it so far!" ~KS
"This was such a fun read! I got sucked into the life of Clara and Reagan immediately! There were so many fun twists that I didn't see coming and it kept me intrigued! I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days! Awesome work Kara!" ~DA


I'm so stoked about the great feedback I'm getting! I'd love for you all to read it. It's FREE on Kindle Unlimited so now you have no excuse! lol! And when you do, please leave me a review. Good or bad, I would love your feedback!

And get it soon because the bonus scene titled 'Bram' will release on February 12th, 2017!
(A little extra love for Valentine's Day!)


and

I also have a blog just for my writing if you'd like to follow along

learn more at www.karakoeven.com

This is exciting you guys! 
And I intend to keep writing - my second full novel is already half way finished!

This is going to be a great year!
~Kara

Starting Fresh in 2017


This blog article from Thrifty Decor Chick really got me thinking tonight. For the past couple weeks this topic has been weighing on my mind, probably because of Christmas somehow turning into more of a ritual for bringing more junk into the house and less on celebrating the birth of our Savior (I'm sure we can all relate to that).
My house is small - 2 bed, 1 bath 1200 sqft, plus another 500 sqft in the basement to store more junk - and I feel like its overwhelmingly stuffed. For years I've collected things here and there that I like trying to get a feel for my 'style' while trying to keep my husbands 'style' in mind, and what I've ended up with is a bunch of things that don't really relate and are simply taking up space. There's no real style here, and it doesn't look anything like I want it to. So, naturally, things I really love and want to keep, like beautiful china I inherited stay packed away in a box because there's no where to put it. What remains is just stuff. This is one of the major reason's why everyone needs a design plan for each room of their house. Our e-design packages start at only $99 per room which is an amazing deal if anyone needs a little help, but that's not what this post is about.
Lori and I have put a lot of thought into our business goals for this year, and one of the things we really want to focus on is taking our homes back to basics and making them beautiful and functional and helping our followers and clients do the same. We really believe it is possible to have a beautiful home that functions the way you need it to for your family at any stage of life, whether your kids are young or you're entering retirement and hosting the grand kids on a regular basis. This doesn't mean a massive remodel or make over. Most of us can't afford to do that. But what we can do is get rid of the 'things' that are weighing us down physically, mentally, and spiritually. And really, this starts with our homes - our sanctuary's from the world.
Neither one of us loves our homes right now. We have outdated flooring and kitchens and clutter spots that never seem to go away and no room for a home office let alone a craft room, and what do we do with all those toys?! etc, etc And don't say 'I don't have time'. I have a full time job, run a home decor and design business, have a toddler at home, run a household, am putting a feasibility report together for a quality affordable subdivision in Star Valley (which takes an insane amount of time an research), am taking a class on business, am launching my career as a writer and trying to market my first novel, getting ready to launch my second book (an extension of the first one coming in February!), and plan on having my next full novel written, edited, and launched by this summer, and trying to do all this while healing up from a surgery on my arm 8 days ago. I am literally typing this with a splint (the first words I've typed since my surgery). I am BUSY! But I'm making time for this because this is important! It's time for us to start living well. We need to get back to the basics, create a sanctuary for our selves and our families, and get rid of all the stuff, people, attitudes, etc that are preventing us from being truly happy. 
This book by Marie Kondo really helps teach how to de-clutter once and for all, and the 'magic' effect that doing so will have on your happiness and well being in every aspect of life. It's about getting rid of things, simplifying, and only keeping or bring in things to your life/home that make you feel joy. Such a simple yet powerful truth!

Our resolution at Inspiration Home this year is to focus on the things we really love, the people that make us happy, and the things in life that lift us up and bring joy to our live's. We invite you all to join us on this endeavor. We will be posting our progress here as well as on Facebook, and would love to have you guys share your progress as well! Let's make this year not just a great year, but the solid foundation for many years of true wealth and happiness for the future! 


~ with love, 
Kara

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

INSPIRATION: Old doors

We've all heard the expression 'if walls could talk', but what about old doors. What stories would they tell of who came knocking? Was it a friendly visit? Did they bring a basket of warm biscuits or fresh veggies from their garden? Did they come as friends to chat and have a good time, or did they come to complain about one thing or another? How many times did that old door let family or friends through for a visit? How many times did it let the neighbor kids in to play or perhaps tease it with a game of ding dong ditch? Was there ever a time when it would rather have bolted itself closed and not let someone in, or perhaps, someone out? Oh the stories an old door could tell!

While it may not always be practical to keep on old door functioning as an actual door, there are many other ways you can use old doors in your decor to bring a little history and character into your home. Here are a few examples:


Use an old antique door for an interior pantry or basement door.
Look how much character this adds to the home!


Use a glass door to display family photos. Simply tape the photos to the back of the windows and hang on the wall. Better yet, add hooks and use it in the entry to hand scarves, hats, and jackets. This is such a cute look and a great way to display more of your fun family photos! 


Prop one up in the corner. This is a super easy way to add character to any room in your home. Add a pretty wreath and ribbon to finish it off. 


Give an old door a new twist by turning it into a sliding barn door. This is one of the hottest trends in the home decor world. If there is a space big enough in their home for a sliding barn door, people want them! So what better way to do it than with an old antique door.
 The patina on this one is particularly amazing, don't you think? 


Use an old door [or two] for a headboard. Stand two side by side or lay one horizontally, either way you have a perfectly patina'd head board to make a focal point in the bedroom. If this was your guestroom, your guests would probably never leave!



Repurpose and old door into a new piece of furniture. A corner shelf, a bench, a coffee table, you name it! There are endless options on how to use old doors in your homes decor.

What do you think? Do you love old doors? If they could talk I'm sure they would have some wonderful tales to tell. They can add unique beauty, character, and history to any home. So if you have any old doors hiding away in the shed or basement, don't throw them away! Give them new life by turning them into part of the decor. 

Make it a great day!
~Kara


Friday, August 14, 2015

3 Tips for Decorating a Console


Hi Everyone,

Kara has been really great about keeping our online presence going.  I keep promising her I will be better about posting on Facebook and doing some blog posts.  So I decided that I would start posting design tips that everyone can do and may need a little help with. For starters lets talk basic rules for decorating a console table.

3 Tips for Decorating a Console Table

Console Tables are great pieces of furniture to add to your home.  They can create an entry, add dimension behind your sofa, or fill in that blank wall you just can’t figure out how to style. 

Today I will demonstrate three different ways to decorate a console. As the base of these designs I'll use this great little table and beautiful Blue Heron Painting the girls got in while Kerry and I were playing in Ireland and Scotland.  The main colors we are using here are coming from the Painting.  We have various colors of blue in the bird’s feathers along with some red accents.  The black lines in the picture are balanced with the black console.  We will pick up the white in the frame and background in our accessories.  When putting colors and accessories together it's important to create balance from top to bottom and side to side. If something doesn’t look quite right it is probably because the balance is off.  (Another Blog Post)

1. Move My Eye Left to Right



In this picture the items on the table are in an Asymmetrical arrangement.  Your eye starts out focusing on the tall oars on the left side. It will then flow across the painting and down to the picture frame and canoe.  Your eye then picks up the antlers on the bottom shelve as they bring the white down from the picture creating balance in the vignette.  Can you see how the colors in the painting are picked up by the accent pieces?
2. How About some Symmetry




In this arrangement the identical tall candle sticks on either side of the table create symmetry.  Instead of your eye flowing from left to right your eye focuses on the whole arrangement.  The blue orbs in the middle pick up the blue from the painting.  We also created symmetry and balance in the design by adding the white shore birds on the bottom shelf bringing down the white from the painting and tying in the bird theme. 
3. Creating a Collected Look

Because the heron is a lake bird, we can add a collection of boats and still be cohesive in our design.  We will combine our collection with an asymmetrical design with the tall sailboat on the left and then flowing to the right with a setof wooden sailboats.  The large canoe on the bottom carries our boat theme down and the colors in the canoe balance with the painting.
These are three fun ways to decorate your console table.  You can also apply these tips to your fireplace mantle.
I hope you try some of these tips in your house.
~Lori
Is there anything you see you in these pictures you just fell in love with?  All items can be purchased in our Garden City Store. For more great items checkout our online boutique here.
Need some help, contact us about our e-design program.