It’s only May, but lately I’ve been gravitating toward oceany colors in anticipation of the warm summer months when all I want to do is dive into water: pools, lakes, oceans, showers — anything cool and refreshing. I’ve never gone so far as to bedeck a whole room in blue hues, but I’m loving this dining room palette so much that I might have to consider going blue this summer. The painted walls make the darkness in the “after” room feel elegant and dramatic, not drab, as in the “before” image. I also love the jolt of energy provided by the bright aqua chairs and lime green doors. Chelsey made many wise decisions in this room besides the color palette: The built-in provides tons of beautiful storage, the chevron window seat is a great addition of pattern and the decorative molding provides added interest and sophistication to the walls. Nicely done, Chelsey! — Kate

Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)

Read the full post after the jump . . .

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Dip-dyed legs are everywhere! It’s pretty cool to see so many awesome iterations of this super simple furniture treatment, and I have yet to come across a dip-dye job I don’t like. Different proportions, different colors — they all look amazing. I’d like to see a project where the dip-dye is so extreme that only a bit of the original surface remains at the top . . . maybe I’ll try that for a DIY. In the meantime, here are a couple awesome dip-dye side tables from Caroline and Meg.

Caroline’s formerly frumpy tray table now looks ultra modern, with a coat of white paint and a surprising pop of hot pink at the feet. Meg’s “before” table (shown after the jump) had an orange shellacked surface similar to Caroline’s piece, and she also decided wisely to freshen it up with a coat of white. She opted for gold paint, which suits the curved shape of the table legs beautifully. These are both quick fixes for inexpensive old tables, and they both look marvelous. Nice work, ladies! — Kate

Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)

Time: 4 hours (not including curing)

Cost: $60

Basic Steps: I sanded the table by hand using medium-grade sandpaper. I applied four thin and even coats of white acrylic paint (the brand is called Raphaël but might only be available in France) using a small foam roller brush to avoid streaks, letting it cure for at least 30 minutes between each coat. Then I measured the legs and taped them off where I wanted the pink socks to start. It took four coats of neon pink acrylic paint (also Raphaël) to cover the white evenly. When everything was nice and dry, I removed the tape, heating it a little with a hairdryer before pulling it off to soften the glue and avoid damaging the paint.

My advice is: never skimp on paint quality and go for glossy whenever possible for a cleaner finish and easy maintenance. Also, don’t overdo it with neon: I liked the flash of pink so much that I initially wanted to add some to the tray using a stencil, but now I’m glad I didn’t. I love it just the way it is, and I can’t help but smile every time I look at it! — Caroline

See Meg’s dip-dyed side table project after the jump . . .

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I’m always always excited to see an email from Shanna Murray. Her glittery designs are the only thing that can thaw my icy heart when it comes to the world of decals. For some reason, I really can’t stand most decals and hate how generic they tend to feel. But Shanna’s never feel that way. Maybe it’s the handwriting style or the love and thought she puts into the phrases, but they have a special feel that comes off as anything but generic. This afternoon, Shanna is introducing some beautiful new decals to her shop, as well as some new color options (neon pink is only available through the summer — hurray!) like fog and mint. I’m particularly fond of the “Be Kind” style — always a good reminder on rainy weeks like this when it’s easy to be a grump (looking at myself there). Click here to check out and shop all of Shanna’s new designs. They should be up this afternoon! xo, grace

More new designs after the jump . . .

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I can’t remember the last time I said this, but I’m actually getting excited for this year’s ICFF. Maybe it’s the fact that the weather is supposed to be better by then, but I’m really looking forward to seeing some new work and (hopefully) feeling inspired by great new design again. This series from Camilla Meijer will be debuting at ICFF this year as part of the British European Design Group (booth 2501), which is always my favorite place to find great new wallpaper. In addition to the paper, Camilla will be producing this pattern as textiles (pillows). If you’re unable to visit the show, Camilla will have the collection available to buy online starting May 19th. Click here to check out more of her work online. xo, grace

I’m completely split when it comes to mustard. As a condiment, I am firmly in the “no, thank you” camp. But when it comes to decorating, I’m almost always on the “yes, please” team (although I can’t wear the color to save my life). These new hand-thrown and painted porcelain pieces at Sparrow & Co are a great example of why. The dipped matte-mustard glaze is beautiful and would go well in both modern and traditional homes. It’s rare that I find a piece that I think my mom and I would both have in our homes, but this one definitely crosses over for me. These pieces (teacup + saucer, mug, bowl and teapot) are made in Suffolk, England, and are oven and dishwasher safe. You can check out (and shop) the full collection online right here ($16–$79 each). xo, grace

After a truly epic six-month coffee binge, I’ve decided to give my beloved lattes a rest, as they introduced an equally epic era of heartburn. Try as I might, I can’t embrace tea in quite the same way, but I’m trying my best. As much as I don’t love tea, I do love tea and tea-related accessories like teapots, saucers and stirrers. This Mother’s Day card from W+K honors those accoutrements in a letterpressed card designed by Sarah Hollowood. If you need a nice way to say “Happy Mother’s Day” this year, click here to check out and order a card online. xo, grace