Start of the Retail Journey

Today, I will begin sharing the journey I've gone through the last six months of deciding to open a brick and mortar home decor store in Connecticut.

Back Entrance to Vivid Hue Home

I'm sitting in the future shop as I type this.  As I look around, it's overwhelming the amount of work I still need to accomplish prior to the opening (targeted for April 2015).  But then I have to remind myself how far I've come since making the retail decision in August 2014.

It started with a twinge of desire to decorate.  And that started YEARS ago, that passion and drive to make things pretty in a creative way.  So I started the Vivid Hue Home blog.  Which was enough for awhile.  But then I wanted more.

Original Vivid Hue Home Blog Design 

Current Vivid Hue Home Blog Design

In the last year, I'd started itching to advance to the next step.  There were many directions to consider: Launching an interior design business, starting an on-line home design store, opening a brick and mortar gift boutique, creating a product from the ground up....

Visit Vivid Hue Home projects here.  

Obviously, I am sitting in the middle of my future shop, so you know how I netted out (for now).  I will share the rationale behind that decision in a future post.  I will also share how I settled on my little historical cottage in Farmington, Connecticut.  For those that may be interested in starting a similar business, I will even share the logistics of gaining town approvals for retail signage, setting up an LLC, securing a lease, establishing yourself as "trade" and some of the financial considerations that go into all of this.

Check back soon for my next post in which I will talk about how I landed upon my spot for the retail store.  Here's a glimpse.  We're just getting started and I plan to bring you along every step of the way.

The exterior of Vivid Hue Home "shop"

Until then,

Thank you for continuing to follow and support me along the way!

Big News for Vivid Hue Home

  Today, I'm going to share a big gigantic secret with you.  It's the reason I haven't shared many posts with you these last few months.  It will help explain where my head has been...

But first, this month marks the three year blog anniversary for Vivid Hue Home.

I started this Vivid Hue Home design blog in January 2012 in an effort to channel my pent up design desires.  It has been a terrific outlet into the design world.  This has provided me with incredible opportunities.  Before I make another big announcement, I thought I'd walk you through some of the milestones I've had with the blog:

I have met fantastic fellow designers that have become friends and supporters.  Some, I've had the opportunity to meet IRL (in real life) and others, continue to be virtual supporters but their encouragement is endless.

Dorothy Burke of Dorothy Burke Interiors, Me, Lance Jackson of Parker Kennedy, Paige Minnear of The Pink Clutch

I have traveled to the  Design Blogger's Conference in Atlanta and I even got to stalk meet Jeffrey Alan Marks of Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators and Candace Olson of HGTV's Devine Design.

I've had an opportunity to be featured in a few magazine spreads (one here  and another national pub to be announced soon)

I have been a guest on many fabulous design blogs and been featured on them  (Nantucket Style here) as well.

Calling It Home for "Nantucket Style" Feature here.  

House of Turquoise Features Vivid Hue Home Sunroom

I even made it to the Time's Square marquee in a partnership with Baby Cafe.  See that tiny ant-sized logo down there?  (smile)

I've honed my own interior design skills and participated in multiple makeover challenges, including Linda's One Room Challenge.    See others here.

It's an understatement to say that "Vivid Hue Home" as a design blog has brought me tremendous fulfillment.

And now, I've decided to take it a step further...

That's right, ya'll...

Vivid Hue Home is going to become a brick and mortar shop in the spring of 2015!  For as long as I can recall, I have day dreamed about opening up my own home decor store.

I'm proud to say that folks will be able to buy colorful gifts and home furnishings right in my lil ole town of Farmington, Connecticut.

I plan to take you on my journey of preparing for the grand opening!  I will share my steps along the way.  Everything from setting up an LLC to finding the actual location, to selecting inventory, to designing the storefront....

So hold on...this 2015 is sure to be exciting.

Cheers,
Heather

A Vivid Hue Christmas via iphone

I started this season decorating super early so I'd be super prepared and organized.  And now, it's already mid-December and I'm scratching my head wondering where the heck the time has gone!

I shared the DIY Ombre Tree with ya'll from the sunroom.  Today, I thought I'd give a snapshot of other decorations around the Vivid Hue Home house that I've shared on Instagram this season.  Most are iPhone photos so please excuse the quality.  I will share additional photos soon!


I'm dying to zhush up the fresh greenery in these elephants...they look dehydrated in this shot.  But in real life they are  were a bit more vibrant.

I got these paper whites at a local craft fair.  The florist filled the bark-vase with poppy flowers, fresh holly, red berries and moss.

This is our "meaningful tree" in the living room.  It hosts all of the ornaments that the kids have made and those that we've picked out on our vacations (we make it a point to get one ornament at each vacation to represent the time).

The sunroom tree keeps evolving.  This year, I did the ombre tree (see above link for details)

We seem to have a tree for every room.  Even our Master bedroom!  

Outside

Our Christmas card holder a la Blaze and Bloom made from a vintage window frame and a string of Christmas lights and some clothes pin.

Lastly, if you haven't spotted this fabulous faux Scalamandre paper at Target, you must get some quickly!  The rolls are literally flying off the shelves!

I will share better and more detailed photos soon, I promise!

Hope you're holidays are great!

Cheers!
Heather | Vivid Hue Home

DIY Ombre Christmas Tree

Every year I seem to start decorating for the Christmas season earlier and earlier.  This year has reached an all new milestone.  If I give full disclosure, we put our first tree up two weeks   three weeks ago.  If you follow me on Instagram, you saw the photo of my son's room all decked out for Christmas.  I am not even sure he stripped off his Halloween costume on October 31st before he started stringing colored lights from that newly remodeled room.    

I figured he's eight and the spirit of Christmas is very much alive in his mind.  I'm happy to report that my love of decorating seems to be wearing off on him.  He purchased this Santa Commode cover and matching rug with his own allowance money.  Yes, it was a cringe-worthy moment in my mind in that our 'styles' for how to decorate the house seem to vary slightly (ha) but I still bit my lip and supported his creativity and desire to poop on Santa's beard every time he sits on the toilet seat.

Also, this year, I decided to follow the lead of my friend, Frank (@gayathomedad ) and create an ombre tree for our sunroom.  Here are photos of our house at Christmas last year.
These photos were taken with my iPhone so they're not the best quality but you can get the idea.  

Here's a recall of how the tree looked last year without the ombre effect.  Still very colorful, just not tiered in rows of color like this year:

I purchased over 800 shatter-proof ornaments for the ombre tree in graduated shades.  Then
I had Vivster help me put each individual ornament onto the tree from top to bottom.

I purposefully loaded the tree with more ornaments than empty tree space.  It makes for quite a statement and gives a much more dramatic effect.

I have to say, it's magnificent to see in person!  Thank you to Frank for the idea!
I know it's been some time since I've blogged.  I've had a lot that's taking me away from the blog world....some very exciting news actually.  For a sneak peek of what that may be, please visit me on Instagram.


See more of Vivid Hue at Christmas time here.
In the meantime, hope you're enjoying your holiday season with your family!

Cheers,
Heather | Vivid Hue Home