love list

[bar carts]

keep the guests happy with a little home bar. add some pretty drinkware, a tray, and a vase of fresh flowers to make it come to life.

[ralph lauren honeycomb lantern]

how interesting does this look? it's gorgeous and would look fantastic in a grouping of three over a dining table or in an  entry.

[al fresco dining]

when the weather warms up there's no place i'd rather be than outdoors.

[ce jeu by yelle]

though i can't understand a single lyric of this song, it puts me in the best mood. love!

latest project.

I met with a very sweet lady, Mary Beth, a few days ago to discuss her needs and wants for her family room, kitchen, and entry. She told me she would like a new sofa, tables, and accessories in her family room. She also requested that i bring in some color with my design. She loves bright blues, greens, and summery colors. lastly, she would just like to see an overall update. She wants to go from traditional to contemporary.  

Her mantel needed a little update. It goes from drab to fab with just a few quick changes! I added a gorgeous linen canvas and pulled out the pops of green with the accessories. The painting has the slightest touch of mustard yellow that really ties in the wall color as well.

With a family of five it's necessary to have an adequate amount of comfy seating. Her furniture consisted of chairs and a sofa in a country blue that had been handed down from a friend. I updated the seating with a super comfortable down filled sofa in a neutral color. The sofa is actually going to be in a corner configuration as pictured in the floorplan.

It will allow her whole family to watch tv together in one space. A coffee table and end table were added in a rustic finish to camouflage any scratches or dents added by use. I carried the accent color throughout the seating as well. By adding colorful toss pillows and accessories the room feels complete.

With small children it was necessary to have spill friendly seating in the kitchen. I went with leather dining chairs in a gorgeous shade of green. They can be easily wiped off and cleaned. She wasn't happy at all with her current lighting which gave off a garish glare so I updated it with a contemporary pendant. They glow softly when lit and have a really beautiful look.

My client originally had requested a bar area for her dining room. After measuring the room and creating a floorplan I quickly realized there wouldn't be enough walking space with a bar. I decided to be uncoventional and suggest putting a bar in the entry. With the closed storage it won't be obvious to visitors that it's a bar. I updated her current round traditional rug with a contemporary cowhide in a gorgeous olive green. It will add a lot of interest and make a big impression in the entry.

paper those walls

i l.o.v.e wallpaper. it adds so much drama and character to a space. there are so many different ways it can be used in a room other than floor to ceiling on all four walls. below are a few of my favorite finds.

 [add interest and depth to boring built-ins with a gorgeous wallpaper]

 [highlight your existing architectural detailing with wallpaper.]

[use wallpaper to create a focal wall]

all images are from decor pad

when in rome...

do as the romans do!

i thought i would share some window treatment ideas today. interior design is more informal and eclectic than ever. with that being said, over the top, frilly window treatments are definitely a thing of the past. however, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have floor to ceiling panels in every. single. room. instead why not mix it up a little with some roman shades? they give a nice tailored look to any room. they are also really convenient in that they operate like blinds.

[decor pad]

 [decor pad]

love the black trim that has been added to these white roman shades. it adds so much dimension.

 [decor pad]



love a pretty stripe!

 [decor pad]

how clean, refreshing, and airy is this bathroom? seriously!

 [decor pad]

love the greek key trim that has been added to these shades! how interesting!

[decor pad]

soften up bamboo shades by layering cotton panels with them. love the look!

[house beautiful]

another greek key! these are bold and beautiful.

[house beautiful]

i'm loving the fun pattern on this roman shade. what a lovely kitchen!

[decor pad]

knock knock who is there

i will save the bad joke and cut to the chase.

[orange!]

 i'm not sure if it's the winter blahs or just the fact that it's a great color, but i have really been attracted to orange lately. it's the perfect pop of happy, peppy, warm color!

[traditional home]

it's all about the details. the orange accents pop against the deep turquoise and green. 

 [traditional home]

i love a good inexpensive do it yourself project. thrifted frames have been upcycled and turned into beautiful wall decor. a collection of frames in varying shapes, sizes, and textures have been painted in Harmony by Sherwin Williams.

 

[pinterest]

those olsens are always stylin.

[martha stewart weddings]

sometimes a variety of candles are all you really need to beautifully outfit a dinner table. especially when they are in the perfect shades of complimentary turquoise and orange.

[house of turquoise]

i'm really digging this family room. it's so electic, colorful, and liveable.

 [pinterest]

every girl needs a bright orange blazer.

 [decor pad]

it would be really hard to think of a reason worthy of getting out of such a beautiful bed in the morning.

 [caitlin wilson textiles]

for all of you do-it-yourselfers caitlin wilson textiles has an incredible assortment of fabric by the yard. or if you would rather skip all of the work, ready-made pillow covers are available for purchase as well.

 [shop ruche blog]

now that's a fashionable dining room. when decorating with orange, you must be brave. don't hesitate to accent with another bright color or pattern.

[design sponge]

this bathroom has stolen my heart. if you know me, you know how much i love a clawfoot tub. and an orange one at that? oh my.

[casa sugar]

warm colors paired together are always so striking. the color palette in this living room really makes for an inviting space.

parvez taj

parvez taj is an artist based out of california. he uses a variety of mixed media including photography, inks, and paints to create beautiful works of art on reclaimed barnwood. each piece is relatively inexpensive and most are large in scale. in other words you get a lot for what you pay for which is huge.

original artwork is definitely an investment and doesn't come cheap, but it's so worth it. your home should really show off your personality and reflect your interests. guests should immediately get a sense of 'who you are' when visiting your home. there is no better way to acheive that feel than by adding collected artwork.

[agadir]

[kasbah]

 [reclaimed subway]

[udaipur]

the new stone age

agate is a beautiful ornamental stone that is found primarily in volcanic rock. it is characterized by a rough exterior and a strikingly beautiful core that features bold marbelized colors. lately it has been frequenting fashion as well as interior design magazines and editorials and i for one, love it. it adds an organic yet glamorous touch to any space or outfit. 

[agate bookends from Royale Minerals]

these bookends are gorgeous and would add so much flair to your bookshelf.

[agate bottle stoppers from Uncommon Goods]

add a touch of class to your champagne or wine by replacing the boring cork with one of these gorgeous agate bottle stoppers.

[agate coasters from Uncommon Goods]

i don't think a more beautiful set of coasters exists. these would make for the perfect table top accessory.

 [agate pillow from West Elm]

this pillow has been screen printed to mimic the beautiful marbelized colors found in agate.

[agate slice sculptures from Rain Collection]

these scluptures are the perfect size for adding a little color to a bookshelf or coffee table.

 [agate hors d'Oeuvre plates from Elsewares]

these would be so pretty as a cheese plate or serving tray for your next dinner party.

[delicate agate slice necklace from Urban Outfitters]

this part rock and roll (ha!) and part hippie chic necklace would add so much personality to any outfit.

[purple agate cuff from Modtoast]

everything about this cuff is gorgeous. the wire wrapped detail looks phenomenal.



Office Space

Aside from being a fantastic movie, Office Space is also very important to remember when designing your abode. So many home offices I see are an afterthought. They generally take the backburner to more 'important' rooms like the family room, kitchen, and dining room. To those who work from home however, the office gets a lot of use and should reflect your personal style just as much as the rest of your home.

Especially if you have a creative job there is nothing worse for inspiration than being surrounded by a room that you don't like. I suggest using the office as a place to display collections, treasures from travel, and other interesting items that you love. Make your office a place that you enjoy going to rather than just a place you have to go to.



[Jute Interior Design]

What an incredible home office! I love the industrial feel that the aluminum chairs, iron desk, and pendant lights give to the room.

[Muse Interiors]

The green and purple color scheme works wonderfully in this adorable office. The mix of patterns found in the rug and the roman shade add so much interest to the room. Even the trash can is cute!

[Decor Pad]

Now that's an organized office! This is no ordinary bulletin board with it's beautiful white fabric and nailhead trim. The storage bins and magazine holders keep this office in tip-top shape.

[Amy D. Morris]

This office is certainly not lacking style! The porcupine pendant is stunning and very unexpected in an office.

[LLoyd Ralphs Design]

The monochromatic color scheme in this rooms gives such a cohesive, polished look. Love those lucite chairs paired with the cowhide rug!

[Belle Maison Blog]

This is such a happy, colorful space to hunker down and get to business. It would almost make you forget you were at work! Almost.

[Belle Maison Blog]

There isn't a real notable color scheme in this office, but somehow it still looks incredibly pulled together. The bookshelves look great adorned with framed pictures.