Author: karicaldwell

Secret Source Club

Hey Hey Makers,

I get asked questions all the time about how I come up with the paint finishes I use to help my clients interiors, turn into their dream homes. How I know which products to use, how many layer is it, what colors did I use and how did I do that? 

The truth is, I am a rule breaker. So I can create fast easy and awesome finishes and teach you how too.

I love experiment. I like to mix things up and treat every project like art. A lot of my success, as a decorative painter for the last 24 years, is all given credit to the freedom to experiment.

I want to teach you how to paint with your intuition. I want you to have the courage to be a little rebel and use a little of this and a little of that. And trust yourself enough to create, with ease and confidence.

 BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART THAT WHAT YOU MAKE IS GOOD  

 I want to show you a new way of teaching my style of  painting techniques for  “things” in your home. 

 So my friends, I give you the PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP TO JOIN

Secret Source Club

WHERE I SHARE MY RECIPES ON PROJECTS I AM DOING FOR MY CLIENTS PRIVATE HOMES IN SAN DIEGO AS WELL THE PROJECTS I TRAVEL TO

From walls, to beams, fireplaces, kitchen cabinets, furniture, mirrors, plasters, gold leafing, frames and anything to freshen up the homes interior. 

If you love to DIY or have a flare of doing projects for others in their home or yours this is the place for you, or:

  • You teach paint classes and want to know more techniques.
  • You are a hobbyist and want to know what I know.
  • You are working on large scale projects.
  • You want interior design help. 
  •  You want to start up your decorative painting business and you want to learn more.
  • You want to design your home like a pro 

 You get exactly what i am doing now in my clients homes. I will be the source, to guide you to the next level of painting.

Since it’s online, it doesn’t matter where you are in the world.

The Secret Source Club will include: 

  •  One Live tutorial monthly and tips 
  • Consultations, help, support, and feedback from myself and others in the club.
  • Requests You can request what content that YOU want to see
  • A community of people who want to venture out of boring painting projects as well
  •  You are welcomed to post photos, comment and receive uplifting comments on your work
  • You will learn about other products besides paint to create amazing work

Because this club is all about freedom. You are welcome to join and leave at any time you wish. Every person is welcomed warmly to join and stay awhile. 

FOR ONLY $25 MONTHLY  AUTO PAY THROUGH PAYPAL 

Let me make it easy for you to paint and decorate. Join the Secret Source Club TODAY by clicking subscribe below ↓ And I will see you in the group!


Your House is Missing a Pink Panther

So maybe not exactly a real pink panther, and not the cartoon either, but a beautiful velvet pink accent to your home! Stay on trend with this look by plugging in the best color right now for homes. Pink & velvet.
That may seem super adventurous and a struggle to convince your partner at home that pink is the wave right now that home owners need to ride, but trust me, this color and velvet trend is such a beautiful happy trend!
How can you implement this look into your home:
•Subtle and sweet accent pillows!
 Grab a velvet pink pillow with other colors too if you want to bring a low vibration room to life! The texture and fun pattern of this pillow can boost your home.
•Pink sofas.
Liven up your abode with this look if you dare! A pink velvet sofa makes a statement and is a sexy edgy way to add the velvet and pink look to a room.
•Upholstered chairs.
Make your dinning room or bedroom chairs lush and beautiful with a dusty rose velvet. You can always find a pink velvet fabric and reupholster your chairs to make it the perfect pink!
Are you in love yet with this look? Need this beautiful look into your home asap?! I already found you some ways to accent pink velvet. Grab some right now!
Pink Velvet Pillows (pack of 2):
Pink Lounge Chair:
Elegant Sofa Sleeper:
Pink Plush Fabric by the yard:
I hope I could inspire you and give you an idea to step outside the box and make you consider pink!
Do you dare to go pink? Can you see where you can add a splash of this to your interior?
-Kari Caldwell

The 5 things to get a great nights sleep while traveling

I am planing to travel a lot right now and wow does a good nights sleep sound awesome. Sometimes the jet lag sets in or the feeling of not being at home can really take a toll on getting a well rested sleep. Here are some products I like to use when traveling to get to sleep.

  1. A stress relief candle.

Aroma therapy is powerful and filling up your hotel or air bnb with this stuff can really get you into the proper energy to go into a deep and comfortable snooze. Just be careful and remember to blow it out before you drift off.

You can buy this candle here: http://amzn.to/2xPTmln

2. Boneco travel size mister.

This mist was give you some relief if your sinuses are acting up and you want to have a decongested night. You can buy this here: http://amzn.to/2vN7Qkx

3. Natural Sound Machine.

This natural sound machine can drown out the noisy city and keep you in a serene calm and lovely state of sleep. Ge this sound machine here: http://amzn.to/2xBwN4n

 

4. Deep sleep pillow spray.

This pillow spray will ease anxieties and help you rest your unsettled head to draw it to a deep sleep. Just spray over your pillows in your hotel, airBnB, or your own bedroom to get a great sleep.  You can get this spray here: http://amzn.to/2wVlp6s

5.Dream dust

This mixture of herbs, vegetables, and chamomile flowers will combat and put you into a great well rested sleep.  You can buy this here: http://amzn.to/2wlf6r9

If you take these with you while traveling you can get a great nights sleep virtually anywhere! Make sure to pack with you comfy pajamas, and silk pillow case too!

My 6 Favorite Items from the Magnolia Home Collection @ Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

Hello friends,

I just came across some exciting news! Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper and Magnolia has a line at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Joanna has such a great style and eye for home decor and design.

She is well respected and a talented designer. Some of her products can really be the perfect pattern or color to bring your look to a current  and fresh look.

Here are my top 6 items in the Magnolia home for Bed, Bath & Beyond collection:

  1. This beautiful pillow the “Norma Oblong Throw Pillow in Pink/Beige” is such a fun little pillow. I love the textures and stripes. This tone makes this very non dominant. It’s not as busy as it looks when you put this pillow in a space. I like the textures and pink with the taupe colors. It’s a balance of a feminine and masculine home if you are living with others in your space.

2. The “Ward Square Throw Pillow in Navy/Pink” pillow is also my other favorite pillow in this collection because it’s such a nice little pop of happiness. It’s girly yet non dominant. Can be placed in a south west or coastal style home. Very cute and happy.

3. My next favorite of this collection is the “Trinity Rug in Ivory/Sand.” I absolutely adore faded rugs. This is my absolute favorite way to get a patterned rug in your space without it being so loud. Tis ivory and sand color let’s it go with any interior and color. You can plop this down and build your design with it if you needed. Very versatile and stunning.

4. This next rug is so adorable! This is the “Brushstroke Sunset Rug in Silver” rug from the magnolia home collection. I think this is a fun pop of life and color. Perfect for a bathroom. You could build off of the the orange tone and complimentary colors. I can see this in a cute bathroom with navy blue towels. I want this!

5. You can never go wrong with a black patterned rug! This “Lotus rug” is busy yet so simple. This can be your statement rug and also a design grounder. I love a pop of black  in homes and this can be that grounding contrast your space needs for dimension.

6. Lastly, another favorite is the “Reversible Throw in Black/White.”I think this throw looks really cozy and beautiful. Stripes are always in and can be versatile in design. You can lounge this against your furniture or place it on a bedding. Throws are comfortable and can add a pinch of design if your upholstered furniture needs a little boost. The black and grays in this can go with any color imaginable.

You can go check out this collection at your local Bed, Bath, and Beyond or click on the website here: View the Magnolia home Collection for Bed, Bath, and Beyond. 

What are some of your favorites? Where have you put some of your Magnolia Home items? Let me know!

Kari

How to turn your hobby into a business

Hello my friends,

I know so many of you want the golden ticket on how to grow your creative business and it can be so hard when you’re learning from non creative people. It may work for those who aren’t painting, running an Etsy, making wreaths, or crafting….but for those of us who so this is really difficult to progress and move forward.

After spending tons of money on business coaching and seminars and trainings, I have found someone who speaks to you like a fellow creative person! Jennifer Allwood of the Creative Entrepreneurs Inner Circle. She speaks directly to us like a creative, not a business executive! She gets us and knows the struggle and shows you how you can take your hobby from a craft to a business!

You deserve to have this life changing information to grow and make money with your hobby or art!

Click here now to join the Creative Entrepreneurs Inner Circle 

I promise you will grow and change with your business with Jennifers Guidance.

Succulents: the Low Maintenance Wonder Plant

If you want the freshness a plant gives you that coordinates with your busy life try the on trend plants, Succulents!

Succulents are those cute spiral like plants that retain a ton of water. They also can be replanted over and over again by just tearing a piece off and planting a new one. Oh no, you’ve killed a succulent? Just tear it off and start over! A wonder plant!

Plants are a part of my seven layers on design plan and really do give a space life and freshness. If you’re on the go and not entirely a green thumb try out succulents. They’ve been trendy in interiors for the past few years and I don’t see them going anywhere. Pick some up from your local farmers market and place them into a decorative object for an unexpected look. I’m currently planting them into a donkey skull and leaving it in my garden.

Try putting them into a terrarium if you like minimalistic style. Bringing these plants in doors adds a fun bubbly welcoming look.

Try growing succulents this season and see how stress free and simple they are while adding such a nice friendly feel. Try a cool wooden bowl with soil and some succulents, a skull, or interesting pots of them here and there, or even one big pot with succulents as a center piece.

Happy planting,

Kari

DIY Ant, Fly, and Spider Spray + Stylish Bottles

Summer is here so of course so all the little critters that invade our spaces like ants, fruit flies, and spiders are coming to say hello in places theyre not supposed to be. A lot of my clients hate having those big ugly bottles with harsh chemicals in them so I suggest a natural remedy that is also stylish.

For flies and insect pests:

-Mix 1/4th cup of water and 1/4th cup of vodka.

– Add 15 drops of peppermint essential oil.

-Add 15 drops of tea tree oil.

-Add 7 drops of a citrus oil of your choosing (orange, grapefruit, lemon.)

Mix this concoction and put into a vintage plant mister. The vintage glass plant misters give your new remedy a better face to look at rather than those bright spray plastic bottles. The vintage plant mister could sit on your kitchen window shelf, a table, stay in your garden, and still gives you a design element rather than a distracting bright spray bottle.

You can order the plant misters on amazon in a variety of colors and sizes. I know it may not seem like a big deal but just getting rid of the heavy harsh chemicals in bug sprays and the bright distracting bottle they can come in, can add a more livable interesting space to your environment. Place the bottle on a stack of vintage books or gardening magazines and you have added an interesting stage to kill bugs.

Do you love this vintage bottle look as well?

-Kari

7 Easy Ways to Incorporate the Color Black in Your Home

Don’t shy away from black! No it’s not too dark for your space and actually your place might look better if you pop it in here and there. Black is actually a neutral tone that is a natural color.  Just like in fashion it flatters! The contrast adds dimension and makes a room feel more grounded. Black looks really good with all colors, whites, and grays. My favorite look is the matte black look. It doesn’t look to dark because it’s so soft and it instantly turns anything super chic.

If you have a home on the more masculine or modern side, it may be easy to put a pop of black, but for those who want to incorporate black and don’t know how here are five tips:

  1. a chalk board!

A chalk board wall or even a framed chalk board will give you that calming black that can really be the think you need in a space. This technique doesn’t really work with colored chalk boards. This is also multi functional. You can draw a cool design or write reminders on the board.

2) Paint a large furniture piece black

Yes, paint a large furniture piece black. This can help remove those bulky built ins wardrobes from sticking out so much by camouflaging them into your space. I would also consider painting your Island black as well because that often is the largest piece in a home sometimes.

3) Paint a door black.

Paint the doors inside your home black or repaint the front door black. This isn’t that spooky or weird for doors to be black. It won’t look odd and will really make your hallways more calming.

4) Pop in a patterned rug with black in it

Sometimes something as simple as a patterned rug is all you need to bring in the color black. Rugs with black designs are perfect to create interest yet not overwhelm a space.

 

5) Lampshades and lamps

If anything, this is a really easy simple tip to put black in your home easily. Just a pop of this in your lighting area will bring in the color you need!

6) Chair legs!

Repaint chair legs to a black. This is also very simple and could be what you needed to get the uniformed and polished look into the room.

7) Your Sink Faucet!

A friend of mine recently installed a black faucet and I love that idea. A clean kitchen can handle a black faucet. That is such a simple and great way to utilize black in your space.

Where else have you put the color black into your space? Are you inspired to try black now?

Thank you for reading!

-Kari

*******All photos came from Pinterest.com/ they didn’t have sourcing, if these are yours let me know*********

The timeless and clean tile that will look gorgeous in your space

Hey there.

Clients time and time again are always wary on tile. What is stylish now? If you have that orange Spanish noce tile….It’s time to update and get your space up to date with the times! The look right now is clean subway tiles!

Subway tile is great if you have a home with kids. The tile resists stains and is easy to wipe off and clean. Because it’s so simple, it’s easy to incorporate different styles and it will last a long time through trends and through out the years. This style isn’t going anywhere!

You can use it in laundry rooms, as a backsplash in a kitchen, in bathrooms, wherever you can think to place tile. Heck, even do a whole wall if you can do it.

Usually it runs fairly cheap. Get an estimate from your local tiling place, and you may be surprised how low the cost is.

You can pick a white grout or a gray for a subtle contrast.

There is more than one installation pattern. Choose whichever speaks to you the most. I personally love the subway style the best in my clients homes.

You can get a super minimalistic look by making the grout lines thin or non existent. Butting them right next to each other.

Subway tiles come in 9 different styles, so whichever look you want to achieve make sure to do some research!

What do you think of subway tiles? Is this something you see your space having? Make your home modern for less with this simple and timeless tile.

*All photos courtesy of Pinterest*

Our Moroccan Adventure

Hello my friends!

I want to invite you to something totally different. I want you to come with me to the fabulous Marrakesh, Morocco! Yes, you!

Morocco is such an inspiring place I love to travel to and fuel up on inspiration and to kind of get back into the zen of working my business. It is my special place that I wish so many people could experience because it has given me an abundance of inspiration and knowledge of the country and the culture.

I know some people may not be as much of a free spirit as I am and get worried when considering going to a foreign country, but please know I will be here for you and to help you along every step of the way.

This adventure is includes:

  • Breakfast. Wake up every morning to a rooftop or a beautiful dinning room with food prepared just for you.
  • Tours. Experience the Moroccan culture and see the old world craft and architecture. Explore vendors and street artisans.
  • Lunches. A new unique taste every day.
  • Spa. Relax and unwind to a fabulous retreat by the best of the best in spas.
  • Dinner. Dine together and enjoy the most beautiful restaurants and surround yourself in flavors.

 

All you have to do is show up and experience Marrakech. You won’t have to worry about anything, the plans are all ready for you to join.

This  is not a painting or design retreat, this is just an adventure I want you to come with me to.

Unfortunately I can only take 6 people this time so the adventure is very limited but do not be discouraged to not try to attend.

Pricing: 

A shared room & adventure: $2395

A private room & adventure: $2895

I will try to make this as affordable as possible for you, and we can even discuss a payment plan! 

The deadline for a payment plan will be June 30th! otherwise you will have to pay in full to join.
If you are up for this adventure please email me with the subject line as “I want to adventure with you” and we can confirm your spot for your adventure, I’ll send you an itinerary, and we can discuss your payment options.

Hope to meet you all and spend time with you in Morocco!